German parties agree coalition deal to make Olaf Scholz chancellor

Social Democrat, Green and liberal parties agree to form government after two months of talks

Germany's new three-way coalition government of Social Democrats, Greens and liberals has addressed the public for the first time, pledging to put climate protection at the top of its agenda, but stressing its first priority was to control the pandemic.

Replacing Angela Merkel as leader after 16 years, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats used his opening speech to deliver a dramatic appeal to Germans to get vaccinated, announcing a seven-point plan to tackle the health emergency, which he called very serious", stressing that hospitals were close to capacity, and that his government would be considering the introduction of a vaccine mandate.