7 h. ago Friedrich Merz warns the US to ‘stay out’ of Germany’s politics

Germany’s new chancellor cautions after far-right AfD receive strong backing from Donald Trump alliesGermany’s new chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned the US to “stay out” of his country’s politics after the far-right AfD received strong backing from allies of the US president, Donald Trump.Merz, 69, a conservative who was elected as chancellor of Europe’s biggest economy earlier in the day, also said he planned to speak by phone with Trump on Thursday. Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Friedrich Merz calls for US to ‘stay out’ of German politics

Germany’s new chancellor issued warning after far-right AfD received strong backing from Donald Trump alliesGermany’s new chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned the US to “stay out” of his country’s politics after the far-right AfD received strong backing from allies of the US president, Donald Trump.Merz, 69, a conservative who was elected as chancellor of Europe’s biggest economy earlier in the day, also said he planned to speak by phone with Trump on Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Germany’s Merz confirmed as chancellor in second parliamentary vote after shock first

New leader suffered humiliating loss in the first round, falling six votes short of an absolute majority

Politics

11 h. ago The Guardian view on Germany’s political uncertainty: Merz must recover from this rocky start | Editorial

The initial failure of coalition members to back the new chancellor in sufficient numbers was a bad beginning at a treacherous moment for the nationThe election of Friedrich Merz as chancellor by German legislators on Tuesday morning was meant to end months of political instability, since the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s government half a year ago – itself the result of bitter infighting at the top. Many fear that this could be the last chance to keep out the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). But the humiliating result of the first ballot – in which Mr Merz became the first chancellor designate to fail to secure the majority needed in the Bundestag since the second world war – was a bad beginning.It was supposed to be a straightforward confirmation; instead, he was hobbled by rebels from his own coalition. Only 310 of its 328 legislators backed him, short of the 316 required. He was approved by 325 in a hastily scheduled second&nb...

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13 h. ago Friedrich Merz WINS second vote to become German chancellor hours after suffering humiliating defeat that sparked calls for his resignation

Germany had been thrown into political chaos earlier today as Merz's bid to become the country's 10th chancellor shockingly failed in the first round of voting in parliament by just six votes this morning.

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13 h. ago Germany’s Merz confirmed as chancellor in second parliamentary vote after first round shock defeat

New leader suffered a humiliating loss in the first round – falling six votes short of an absolute majority

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14 h. ago Friedrich Merz elected German chancellor in second round of voting

Merz had suffered a humiliating defeat on the first attempt

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14 h. ago Why Friedrich Merz’s voting debacle could upset his ambitious plans for the EU

The voting fiasco has shaken the beginning of a leadership that was supposed to signal a new era of stability

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14 h. ago What held up Friedrich Merz’s confirmation as chancellor and what’s next for Germany?

The CDU/CSU leader suffered an embarrassing surprise defeat in a first vote that was expected to be a formalityEurope live – latest updatesFriedrich Merz has been confirmed as Germany’s new chancellor but the process was not as smooth as he would have liked – and that’s an understatement. Continue reading...

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14 h. ago German parliament elects Merz as chancellor in second round of voting

New leader secures 325 votes after humiliating loss in first round inflicted by 18 unnamed coalition rebelsEurope live – latest updatesThe German parliament has formally elected Friedrich Merz as the country’s 10th chancellor since the second world war, after a humiliating loss in the first round of voting that raised troubling doubts about the stability of the next coalition government.Merz secured 325 votes in the second round, just above the necessary 316. Earlier in the day 18 unnamed rebels from the newly formed alliance between his conservatives and the Social Democrats had voted to deprive him of the required majority in the secret ballot. Continue reading...

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15 h. ago Friedrich Merz wins second vote to become Germany’s chancellor

Previous defeat had marked a first in country’s postwar history

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15 h. ago Germany’s Merz confirmed as chancellor in second vote following first round humiliation – Europe live

CDU/CSU leader had expected an easy victory in ballot to succeed the outgoing Olaf ScholzMerz suffers shock defeat in German parliament vote for chancellorFor what it’s worth, multiple German media are now suggesting that there won’t be another round of voting today – exactly because Merz and his team worry about the risk of another hugely embarrassing defeat.Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Bild and Stern’s Julias Betschka all say the second vote is unlikely to take place today. Let’s wait for the official confirmation, though. Continue reading...

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15 h. ago Germany’s Merz secures chancellorship in second parliamentary vote after shock upset

The fresh result will be a relief for Mr Merz after he failed to gather the votes needed to form a coalition in the first round this morning

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16 h. ago German parliament votes again on Merz’s bid to be chancellor after humiliating first round – Europe live

Man expected to lead country is first postwar candidate to lose first voting round, described as ‘complete catastrophe’Merz suffers shock defeat in German parliament vote for chancellorFor what it’s worth, multiple German media are now suggesting that there won’t be another round of voting today – exactly because Merz and his team worry about the risk of another hugely embarrassing defeat.Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Bild and Stern’s Julias Betschka all say the second vote is unlikely to take place today. Let’s wait for the official confirmation, though. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Germany’s Merz faces second parliament vote to be elected chancellor after shock defeat in first – Europe live

Man expected to lead country is first postwar candidate to lose first voting round, described as ‘complete catastrophe’Merz suffers shock defeat in German parliament vote for chancellorFor what it’s worth, multiple German media are now suggesting that there won’t be another round of voting today – exactly because Merz and his team worry about the risk of another hugely embarrassing defeat.Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Bild and Stern’s Julias Betschka all say the second vote is unlikely to take place today. Let’s wait for the official confirmation, though. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Why Friedrich Merz’s shock defeat could upset his ambitious plans for the EU – and what happens next

Mr Merz was expected to be Germany’s next chancellor but the vote has thrown his plans into chaos

Events

17 h. ago Friedrich Merz suffers shock defeat in German parliament vote to be named chancellor — by six votes

Mr Merz needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes in a secret ballot – but received only 310 votes

Politics

19 h. ago Chaos in Germany as Friedrich Merz fails to be elected chancellor after MPs rebel amid anger at AfD being designated 'far right',  country's huge bill to defend Ukraine and migrant crisis

Merz, the conservative leader, was expected to win the vote on Tuesday.

Events

19 h. ago German politics bombshell as Friedrich Merz fails to get majority vote needed to be chancellor

The Bundestag now has 14 days to elect Friedrich Merz or another candidate

Politics

19 h. ago Humiliation for Germany’s Merz in vote to be chancellor as he falls short in first ballot – Europe live

Further vote not expected today in process that had been expected to anoint CDU/CSU leader to replace outgoing Olaf ScholzScholz to hand over power to sound of feminist anthemFor what it’s worth, multiple German media are now suggesting that there won’t be another round of voting today – exactly because Merz and his team worry about the risk of another hugely embarrassing defeat.Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Bild and Stern’s Julias Betschka all say the second vote is unlikely to take place today. Let’s wait for the official confirmation, though. Continue reading...

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