Berlin – In a stunning political turnaround, Friedrich Merz has been elected Germany’s new chancellor after securing victory in a second parliamentary vote, just hours after his unprecedented first-round defeat.
Merz won 325 votes in the second vote, surpassing the required majority by nine, following intense behind-the-scenes negotiations. His initial failure — where he received only 310 votes, six short of the 316 needed — marked an unprecedented event in post-war German politics and raised serious questions about coalition discipline.
The outcome quickly restored calm in Berlin, with international leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, offering congratulations. They expressed hopes for a strong, united German leadership.
With his chancellorship now confirmed, Merz is expected to focus on economic reforms, tightening migration controls, and reasserting Germany’s leadership role in Europe. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz will remain in office as a caretaker until Merz’s government is officially sworn in.