A coalition deal in Germany has paved the way for conservative leader Friedrich Merz to become the country's 10th chancellor since World War II. As part of the deal, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party,

The parliament will meet May 6 to elect Merz, who will need a majority of all members of the lower house to be elected as post-World War II Germany’s 10th chancellor and succeed Olaf Scholz.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she is confident of good relations with Friedrich Merz, the conservative German politician set to be elected chancellor next week. Meloni told Italy's Adnkronos news agency that she had been in contact with Merz over recent weeks after meeting him ahead of Germany's February elections.