Merz defeats “obstacle rather than a crash”

The conservative leader of Germany unexpectedly did not reach the majority of voting on parliament to become Chancellor.

Friedrich Merz needed 316 votes in the 630-seater Bundestag, but only 310, with a significant blow to the Christian Democrats leader, two and a half months after winning the federal elections in Germany.

His coalition with the central left has enough places in parliament, but it seems 18 MPs expected to support him.

Responding to the vote, Bundestag member Johan Wadeful, who is due to become the country’s new foreign minister, said he was expecting another vote and that Merz would still become Chancellor.