07-05-2025

Friedrich Merz becomes Germany's new chancellor after vote

Date: 07-05-2025
Sources: news.sky.com: 1 | bbc.com: 1 | foxnews.com: 1
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Source: foxnews.com

Image content: The image is a photograph taken in what appears to be a large auditorium or conference hall, with a group of people gathered together. The main subject appears to be two men shaking hands. The scene is one of celebration and congratulation, as the surrounding individuals are applauding.

Summary

Friedrich Merz has become Germany's new chancellor after a second vote in parliament, despite failing to secure a majority in the first round. He faces challenges including the Ukraine war, global tariffs, and the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Merz's initial defeat raised concerns about the stability and effectiveness of his government.

Key Points

  • Friedrich Merz won the chancellorship with 325 votes in the second round, surpassing the 316-vote threshold
  • Merz initially lost in the first round with 310 votes, a historic first in post-war Germany
  • He faces challenges including recession, immigration debates, and a surging far-right party

Articles in this Cluster

Friedrich Merz becomes Germany's new chancellor after surviving historic vote failure | World News | Sky News

Friedrich Merz has become Germany's new chancellor after winning a second vote in the country's parliament, despite unexpectedly failing to secure a majority in the first round. Merz, leader of the CDU/CSU conservatives, received 310 votes in the first ballot, six short of the required 316, but won 325 in the second. He succeeds Olaf Scholz and faces challenges including the Ukraine war, global tariffs, and the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been designated as extremist by Germany's domestic spy agency.

Germany chancellor Friedrich Merz's messy path to power raises questionsBritish Broadcasting CorporationBritish Broadcasting Corporation

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's initial defeat in a confidence vote on his first day in office has raised concerns about the stability and effectiveness of his government. Despite winning on a second attempt, the messy path to power has sparked questions about his ability to push through contentious legislation, particularly as Germany faces challenges such as recession, immigration debates, and a surging far-right party. Merz's allies claim the situation can be recovered, but critics, including the far-right Alternative for Germany party, see it as evidence of a weak and unstable coalition government.

Germany's new chancellor is Friedrich Merz | Fox News

Friedrich Merz was elected chancellor of Germany in a second round of voting, receiving 325 votes in the Bundestag, surpassing the 316-vote threshold. Initially, Merz lost in the first round with 310 votes, a historic first in post-war Germany, sparking demands from the far-right Alternative for Germany party to call for new elections. Merz's victory came after a coalition deal between his Christian Democratic Union party, its Bavarian sister party, and the Social Democratic Party.