Merz said he would press for the outgoing parliament to pass two major financial packages on infrastructure and defense and changes to state borrowing rules known as the 'debt brake'.
Merz and the SPD crucially need support from the Green Party to pass the measures, and Merz on Saturday said there would be intensive talks with the Greens next week.
"We will integrate climate protection measures (in those packages)," Merz said in the radio interview.