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New German government to be announced

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-24 16:59

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to announce a new, center-right government with the Free Democrats after nearly four weeks of coalition talks following last month's general election.

Leader of the German Free Democrats (FDP) Guido Westerwelle (L) his party fellow Philipp Roesler and German Chancellor and head of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Angela Merkel chat before coalition talks in Berlin, October 23, 2009. [Agencies]

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Horst Seehofer, the leader of Merkel's Christian Democrats' Bavarian-only sister party, said the parties' leaders had come to an agreement early Saturday, including on the distribution of the ministries and a planned tax cut for 2011.

Further details are to be announced at a government news conference later.

The head of Merkel's Christian Democrats, Roland Pofalla, said "the coalition of the center is ready to go," and the parties' agreement is a good basis for future cooperation.

The coalition agreement is expected to be approved and signed on Monday.