German election winner Merz moves step closer to forming government

Conservative bloc and SPD to start full coalition talks as chancellor-in-waiting plans to revive ailing economy

Germany's conservative election winner, Friedrich Merz, came a step closer on Saturday to forming a government that he says will revive Europe's top economy and its armed forces with massive new spending.

The bold moves are part of his plan to rebuild Berlin's standing in Europe, which Merz has said must respond to the sweeping changes driven by the US president, Donald Trump, that have rocked the transatlantic alliance.