Friedrich Merz elected as Germany's new chancellor

BERLIN,— Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU bloc, was elected chancellor on Tuesday after a second round of voting in parliament, following an unexpected setback in the first round.

Merz, 69, guided his conservative party to victory in February’s federal election and formed a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).

In Tuesday’s secret ballot, Merz secured 325 votes, nine more than needed for an absolute majority. The first round saw him fall short with just 310 votes, revealing that at least 18 coalition members withheld support.

Political observers said the initial failure could deepen tensions between coalition partners, raising concerns about the stability of the government.

“All of Europe was watching Berlin today, hoping Germany would show itself as a stable, pro-European leader,” said Jana Puglierin, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations’ Berlin office. “That hope has been disappointed.”

Merz told Germany’s ARD broadcaster that he was eager to get to work, not dwell on the reasons behind the first-round vote loss.

“I am certain that we will work together in this coalition with trust,” he said, highlighting his main goals as protecting Germany’s freedom and strengthening its economic competitiveness.

The new chancellor steps into office as Europe works on security guarantees for Ukraine and negotiates trade agreements with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs this year, adding to Germany’s economic pressures, which include the loss of cheap Russian gas since the 2022 Ukraine war and rising competition from China.

The German coalition agreement outlines plans to stimulate economic growth by cutting corporate taxes and reducing energy costs. It also emphasizes strong military spending and support for Ukraine.

“We sincerely hope to see more German leadership in European and transatlantic matters,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, noting the stakes for Europe’s future.

After the parliamentary vote, Merz visited Bellevue Palace to receive his formal nomination from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, then returned to the Reichstag to take his oath of office, becoming Germany’s 10th postwar chancellor.

On Wednesday, Merz is set to visit France and Poland, signaling Germany’s intent to reclaim its global leadership role after the collapse of the previous SPD-led government.

He also plans a phone call with Trump on Thursday and may meet him before the NATO summit in June, he told broadcaster ZDF.

Merz’s rocky start is notable, as no previous postwar chancellor failed on the first vote. Party insiders expected him to secure the majority despite reported frustrations over cabinet appointments, policy compromises, and a large borrowing plan passed by the prior parliament.

According to Carsten Brzeski of ING Research, some CDU/CSU lawmakers likely used the secret vote to express dissatisfaction with Merz’s fiscal policy shift after campaigning on budget discipline.

Pollster Manfred Guellner said the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which placed second in February, was the only party benefiting from the coalition’s early troubles.

Merz’s cabinet features several new faces from the private sector, reflecting his push for expertise. Only one minister, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, remains from the previous government.

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X, “Congratulations, dear Chancellor Friedrich Merz. It’s up to us now to make the Franco-German engine stronger than ever.”

(With files from Reuters)