13 April 2026, Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes part in the press conference after the coalition committee alongside Markus Soeder (L), Minister President of Bavaria and CSU Chairman and Baerbel Bas (2-R), German Minister of Labor and Co-Federal Chair of the SPD, as well as Lars Klingbeil (R), German Minister of Finance and Co-Federal Chair of the SPD. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa