Friedrich Merz Elected Chancellor of Germany After Tumultuous Votes
BERLIN (AP) — Friedrich Merz has been elected as Germany’s new chancellor following a dramatic parliamentary session, where he initially fell short in the first round but secured victory in a second vote. Merz garnered 325 votes, surpassing the required majority of 316, after receiving only 310 votes in the first round. The event marks a historic moment as no post-war candidate has previously failed to win on the first ballot.
Merz leads a coalition comprising his center-right Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union, and the center-left Social Democrats, led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Jens Spahn, head of the Union bloc, emphasized the global implications of the vote, highlighting ongoing challenges like the war in Ukraine.
Had Merz failed again, the Bundestag would have had two weeks to elect a majority candidate, risking further political instability. Despite his coalition’s victory, criticism arose from far-right opposition leader Alice Weidel, who called for new elections, citing instability within Merz’s coalition. With Germany becoming a key military spender and grappling with economic stagnation, Merz’s government faces significant challenges ahead.
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