Federich Merz, leader of Germany’s CDU/CSU bloc, has become the new German chancellor after securing a narrow majority during the second round of votes on Tuesday in the country’s Bundestag.
The results came after Merz failed to secure a majority during the first round of voting on Tuesday morning – the first in modern German history.
Merz secured 325 votes in the second round of voting, nine more than the 316 needed for a majority. He would later travel to the presidential palace to be sworn in.
Earlier on Tuesday, Merz received 310 votes. With 307 voting against and three abstaining, the Bundestag called a break for parties to plan their next steps.
Despite Merz’s CDU/CSU/SPD coalition having 328 seats in the Bundestag, he received 18 fewer votes than expected during the first round.
AP News noted that some from Merz’s coalition likely defected, though the secret ballot meant that those who voted against him might forever remain anonymous.
Merz won the German elections in February but had been working on forming a coalition in recent months before Tuesday’s votes.
Merz’s historic upset on early Tuesday came as security uncertainty looms over Europe amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with far-right parties gaining significant ground riding on anti-immigrant sentiments.
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right AfD party, called on Merz to resign soon after the first round of voting.
“As the AfD, we have set out to turn this country upside down. We are ready to assume government responsibility. And we call for common sense to prevail. Mr. #Merz should resign immediately. The way should be paved for new elections in our country!” she said on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped Berlin would boost its role as a leading force among Western nations under Merz.
“We sincerely hope that Germany will grow even stronger and that we’ll see more German leadership in European and transatlantic affairs,” Zelensky said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
This is a developing story.