After the federal election - exploratory talks

04 March 2025, Berlin: Markus Söder, Chairman of the CSU and Minister President of Bavaria and Chairman of the CSU, Friedrich Merz (2nd from left), candidate for Chancellor of the CDU/CSU, Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and Federal Chairman of the CDU, Lars Klingbeil (r), Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group and Federal Chairman of the SPD, and Saskia Esken, Party Chairwoman of the SPD, arrive at the press conference on the exploratory talks between the CDU/CSU and the SPD. Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa (Photo by Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images)