Germany’s Social Democrats are under pressure to quickly revamp leadership as a role in a new government beckons, even though Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party slumped to its worst election result since World War II.

Senior figures from Germany's conservatives and the Social Democrats will begin exploratory talks on forming a coalition government on Friday, sources at the parties told Reuters. Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative bloc which came first in Sunday's election,

Germany's conservative bloc and the Social Democrats (SPD) have started exploratory talks aimed at forming a new government coalition, following Sunday's federal election. Leading party representatives gathered in a parliament building on Friday morning.