Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ruling coalition with the Social Democrats faces a key vote in parliament on Friday that could precipitate its demise only seven months into its four-year term.
A group of about 18 younger lawmakers from the conservative leader’s own party has rebelled against the government’s pension bill, which is due to go to a final ballot in the Bundestag at around 12:30 p.m. in Berlin. Although it’s unclear how many of them might reject the law, it threatens to wipe out the coalition’s majority of just 12 seats and deal another blow to Merz’s credibility.