Group 1 - The German Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative party led by Friedrich Merz, clearing the way for Merz to officially assume the role of Chancellor next week [1] - Approximately 85% of SPD members who participated in the online vote supported the coalition agreement, with 56% of the party's 360,000 members taking part in the vote [1] - Merz, a 69-year-old member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and former corporate lawyer, will take over the management of Germany amid domestic economic challenges and geopolitical instability [1] Group 2 - Germany's GDP has declined for two consecutive years and is at risk of further contraction this year, with some polls indicating that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has surpassed Merz's conservatives in support [1] - The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency have further complicated Germany's economic recovery efforts, which are expected to face challenges due to U.S. protectionist policies [2] - The new coalition government has committed to strengthening defense and domestic security in response to Russian military threats and addressing illegal immigration, a key issue for AfD voters [2] - A large investment plan agreed upon by the conservatives and SPD in collaboration with the Green Party is expected to help Germany achieve approximately 1% economic growth next year [2]