German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he intends to reach out to opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democrats to seek rapid joint solutions aimed at strengthening the German economy and the defence portfolio. “I will now very quickly seek dialogue with the leader of the opposition, Friedrich Merz,” the Social Democratic leader said in Berlin as he announced a vote of confidence to decide the future of his coalition government on January 15. Scholz said he wants to offer Merz the opportunity to work together constructively on two or even more issues “that are crucial for our country…