The Latest Breaking News from the Social Democrats

While Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz is already plagued by criticism and sinking poll numbers at home, his EU partners are eagerly awaiting him on the Brussels scene. They expect him to replace the dullness of his predecessor with strong leadership - and Merz is willing to deliver.

The German parliament plans to meet on May 6 to elect Friedrich Merz as the country’s next leader, if all the parties in his proposed government approve a coalition agreement reached last week

Presumed future chancellor says coalition has ‘strong plan’ after negotiations as polling shows popularity of far-right AfD

Conservative and center-left parties will present a deal to form a new German government on Wednesday after weeks of negotiations

The Irish Government has won a vote of confidence in the speaker of the parliament.

The Dail is debating a confidence motion in Ceann Comhairle (speaker) Verona Murphy.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has accused the opposition of trying to bully and intimidate Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.

The opposition criticised video footage of Michael Lowry making a gesture to a TD as the Dail was adjourned.

Backing of Greens is tantamount to approval of chancellor-in-waiting’s proposal to relax debt brake

But Friedrich Merz cautions such a move could not replace the US’s existing protective shield over Europe

The lifelong Atlanticist was frank after his election victory: Nato is on the brink, and Germany must reassess its core beliefs on defence, says Jörg Lau, international correspondent for Die Zeit