Talks on forming German Chancellor Angela Merkel's next government collapsed, throwing the future of Europe's longest-serving leader into doubt.

Exploratory talks on forming a new coalition government for Germany have collapsed. The business-friendly FDP bailed out of negotiations - saying it had failed to find common ground on key issues with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative alliance and the Greens.

After the talks before the talks come the talks themselves. Germany's CDU/CSU and SPD are set to begin negotiations in Berlin.

Italy's Five Star Movement says it will not hold further meetings with the Democratic Party unless it agrees to keep Giuseppe Conte on as premier.

In Italy, there is a last-ditch bid to carve out a viable majority in parliament after a rocky day of negotiations between Five Star and the Democratic Party yesterday. We’ve learned that the Democrats now are willing to accept Giuseppe Conte’s return as prime minister but some sticking points remain.

A deployment focused on reconstruction turned into war: The Bundeswehr has left Afghanistan after 20 years. Deutsche Welle asked all parties in parliament to take stock.

You don't get extra votes for originality in politics — across Germany's election manifestos, influence from elsewhere is everywhere. Here are some of the policies that have been taken from other countries.

A week after Germany's parliamentary election, the main four parties are starting formal coalition talks. The conservative CDU and center-left Social Democrat parties are both seeking to lead the new government.

Party delegates have voted by a large majority to join formal negotiations with the Social Democrats and the neoliberal FDP to form the next government.

With divergent platforms and a promise to have a new government before Christmas, the Social Democrats, Greens, and business-focused Free Democrats have their work cut out for them.