German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially appointed Friedrich Merz as the new Chancellor today, following his election to the position in the second round of voting in the Bundestag.
Two and a half months after his victory in the parliamentary elections, the conservative leader succeeded Social Democrat Olaf Scholz at the head of a coalition government, appointed for four years.
However, his historic failure to be voted Chancellor in the first round of voting in the Bundestag marked a serious setback at the very beginning of his term.
DON'T MISS IT
Merck was elected as the new German Chancellor today, in the second round of voting, after missing six votes in the first, morning round. Merck needed 316 votes out of a total of 630 MPs in the secret ballot, and received 310 in the first round. He was elected with 325 votes in the second round.
The morning's failed first-round vote was a precedent in modern German political history and a major blow to the Christian Democratic leader.
Bonus video:
