Germany’s prospective new government fails to win support for plans

Friedrich Merz is expected to become the new Chancellor (AP)

Germany’s Greens have said they will not offer vital support for the prospective new government’s plans to loosen debt rules for defence spending and to draw up a huge infrastructure investment fund, as things stand.

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz, who won last month’s German election, is trying to put together a coalition with outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats.