The leaders of the centre right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU) - the CDU's sister party that only operates in the south-eastern German state of Bavaria - and centre left Social Democrats (SPD) gave statements to the press, as coalition talks to form a new German government reached the next stage.
CDU leader and Germany's most likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said there are still "some hurdles ahead," but remains confident that the parties will manage to come to agreement.
