Votes at 16 backed in German coalition talks after success of Fridays for Future

SPD, Greens and FDP make pledge in acknowledgement young people must have say country's future

The three parties on track to form Germany's next coalition government have been locked in tense negotiations over the future of Europe's powerhouse. But regarding one seemingly radical issue, they are united - lowering the voting age to 16.

The Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) have signed up to reduce the age at which Germans can vote from 18 in acknowledgement that an increasingly politicised generation of young people must have a future say in the way the country is run.