A senior member of Germany's conservative bloc has called on the Social Democrats to put party interests behind those of the country, as both parties are widely expected to begin talks on forming the next government.

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Monday insisted that the "responsibility" to lead negotiations on the formation of a new government lies with conservative leader Friedrich Merz. Lars Klingbeil,

Germany's conservatives won the country's snap elections, but many in the party are disappointed at its overall showing. The SPD fared even worse, plummeting to the worst result in its modern history.