Leaders of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) will not appear at traditional events to mark Ash Wednesday as they focus on negotiations to form a government in Berlin. The SPD is "prepared to negotiate and talk all week,

Germany's conservative bloc and the Social Democrats (SPD) plan to continue exploratory talks next week aimed at forming a new government coalition, after an initial round of discussions on Friday, five days after parliamentary elections.

Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) said on Wednesday they had agreed to start talks on a possible coalition with Friedrich Merz's conservatives but stressed their support was not automatic and hit out at his negotiating style.