Friedrich Merz Elected German Chancellor After Second Vote
Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has been elected Germany’s new chancellor, but only after a dramatic second-round vote revealed deep cracks within his coalition. Merz fell six votes short of the required majority in the initial secret ballot, marking the first failed first-round chancellor vote since 1949. After urgent behind-the-scenes negotiations, a second vote was held later the same day, where Merz narrowly clinched victory with 325 votes, just nine above the threshold. The close call has sparked questions about internal dissent, with SPD lawmakers denying responsibility for the near-miss. Party leaders defended the swift resolution, citing the need for stability in Germany and across Europe.
