The conservative CDU/CSU bloc led by Friedrich Merz, which won last week's election, and the Social Democrats (SPD), which suffered a historic defeat, will begin initial exploratory talks on whether they could form a new coalition government on Friday, according to German media reports citing party sources.

Merz has said he would like to have a government in place by April 20. Until a new government is formed, current Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his coalition with the Greens continues to govern.

According to the dpa news agency, each side will send nine negotiators to the first round of exploratory talks.

For the SPD, party leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken will sit at the table, as well as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil.

Also on the SPD negotiating team: Secretary General Matthias Miersch, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, the two state premiers Manuela Schwesig and Anke Rehlinger, and Achim Post, the party's head in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. 

The team from the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, has not yet been announced. However, it is expected that CSU leader Markus Söder and secretaries general Carsten Linnemann (CDU) and Martin Huber (CSU) will take part, as well as the likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz.

If successful, the exploratory talks would be followed by several rounds of negotiations to form a coalition government.

Difficult talks expected despite lack of other realistic options

A coalition of the CDU/CSU and Social Democrats is the most likely outcome of the parliamentary elections.

While campaigning, Merz vowed not to form a government with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which finished second in the elections ahead of the SPD. 

Still, dfficult negotiations are expected. There are clear differences on issues such as migration, the constitutionally enshrined debt brake and Ukraine policy. In addition, the heated election campaign destroyed much of the trust between the parties.

Klingbeil of the SPD has repeatedly made clear that joining a government is not a foregone conclusion, "Whether a government will be formed, whether the SPD will join a government, that is not certain."

The CDU/CSU led Sunday's election with 28.5% of the vote. That puts conservative leader Merz in position to become Germany's next chancellor. The SPD won only 16.4% of the vote, its worst result ever.

Edited by: Sean M. Sinicio