Germany’s new parliament convened with the far-right AfD as the second-largest party, while coalition talks between the CDU/CSU and SPD focus on tax and migration policies.

The Bundestag, now reduced to 630 members, remains underrepresented in terms of gender and diversity.

Friedrich Merz aims to form a government by Easter, already securing a key win on debt policy with Green Party support, The Guardian has reported.

Meanwhile, tensions persist over the AfD’s rising influence and opposition to military aid for Ukraine.

Written by B.C. Begley