Over seven weeks after state elections in Thuringia, the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) have finalized a coalition agreement for a five-year state government.

SPD negotiator Christoph Matschie said the agreement was based on "fair compromises from both sides."

CDU negotiator Christine Lieberknect said the last round of talks were "tough, yet fair."

The lengthy negotiations included disputes above all on the state's finances. Exact details of the results are to be released on Wednesday.

The two parties will hold conferences this weekend to approve the agreement. The SPD conference is likely to be heated, since many members are not happy at the decision to join a coalition with the CDU, rather than with the Greens and the Left party.

glb/AP/dpa

Editor: Michael Lawton