Friedrich Merz has been confirmed as Germany’s new chancellor after securing 325 votes in the Bundestag on his second attempt, crossing the 316-vote threshold required for a majority, according to The Guardian.
The vote took place following a failed first-round attempt earlier this month, when Merz fell just six votes short, receiving 310 out of 630 possible votes. In the successful second vote, 289 members voted against him, one abstained, and three ballots were declared invalid.
Merz had been expected to win the chancellorship during the initial vote but came up short, triggering a second round as required under the German constitution.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Merz, along with its sister party the Christian Social Union, had secured the largest share of votes in Germany’s federal election. The two parties are set to form a coalition government—a typical move in German politics where absolute majorities are rare.
Prior to Tuesday’s successful vote, Carsten Nickel, deputy director of research at Teneo, told CNBC, “Friedrich Merz became the first chancellor candidate failing to be elected in the first round of voting in the Bundestag. However, he remains likely to win sufficient support eventually.”
Berenberg economist Holger Schmieding had described the earlier failed vote as a “bad surprise,” adding, “It shows that he cannot fully rely on his two coalition parties. That will sow some doubts about his ability to fully pursue his agenda, damaging his domestic and international authority at least initially.”
Merz, 69, has spent decades climbing the ranks of the CDU, with a long-standing ambition to lead the country. His political career began in school with his involvement in the CDU's youth wing. He later served in the European Parliament and then moved to the Bundestag, where he became a key figure.
A major chapter in Merz’s political life was his rivalry with former Chancellor Angela Merkel. In the early 2000s, the two frequently competed for leadership within the CDU and its parliamentary group. Merz eventually became chair of the group but stepped down in 2004 amid Merkel’s consolidation of power.
