Merkel to hold talks with Macron in Paris on Friday

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron will host German Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks in Paris on Friday, two days before she faces a high-stakes vote on her proposed governing coalition with the Social Democrats.

The French presidency said Wednesday Merkel and Macron, who is driving a bid to reform the European Union, would discuss "the future of Europe and upcoming priorities."

On Sunday, 600 delegates from Germany's Social Democrats will be asked to give the green light to a preliminary coalition agreement reached with Merkel's conservatives last week.

Merkel, whose political life is on the line after more than 12 years in power, has welcomed the coalition blueprint as "a fresh start" for Germany and Europe.