(FILES) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) and German Finance Minister, Vice-Chancellor and leader of the Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) Lars Klingbeil attend a press briefing on the results of the coalition committee consultations on the pensions package, on November 28, 2025 at the Chancellery in Berlin. A year ago, German lawmakers elected conservative Friedrich Merz as chancellor. The chancellor had vowed to diminish the appeal of the country's far-right AfD party with two main strategies -- taking a tough stance on immigration to outflank the far-right party on the issue, and aiming to enact bold reforms to prove that centrist parties are still capable of acting. Tighter immigration rules have led to a significant decrease in arrivals -- but the chancellor does not appear to be benefitting political. Meanwhile the reform drive has stalled due to bickering between the conservative CDU and the social democratic SPD coalition parties, with the long-struggling economy making a slower than expected recovery. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP via Getty Images)

People walk across the street at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on May 4, 2026, as Japan's Golden Week holiday draws nearly 24 million domestic travellers onto the country's roads and railways alongside record numbers of foreign visitors. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

Tourists and locals take pictures of Shibuya Crossing from a Starbucks in Tokyo on May 4, 2026, as Japan's Golden Week holiday draws nearly 24 million domestic travellers onto the country's roads and railways alongside record numbers of foreign visitors. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

People walk across the street at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on May 4, 2026, as Japan's Golden Week holiday draws nearly 24 million domestic travellers onto the country's roads and railways alongside record numbers of foreign visitors. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

People walk across the street at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on May 4, 2026, as Japan's Golden Week holiday draws nearly 24 million domestic travellers onto the country's roads and railways alongside record numbers of foreign visitors. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

People wait to cross Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on May 4, 2026, as Japan's Golden Week holiday draws nearly 24 million domestic travellers onto the country's roads and railways alongside record numbers of foreign visitors. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

A woman looks at her phone as she waits in Tokyo on May 4, 2026, as Japan's Golden Week holiday draws nearly 24 million domestic travellers onto the country's roads and railways alongside record numbers of foreign visitors. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)

People wait for the train in Tokyo on May 4, 2026, as Japan's Golden Week holiday draws nearly 24 million domestic travellers onto the country's roads and railways alongside record numbers of foreign visitors. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)