13 h. ago Friedrich Merz arrives as a humbled new German chancellor – but that may not be the worst way to start | Jörg Lau

Defeat in the first round of a confirmation vote was humiliating. It could be the lesson Merz needed to change his leadership styleThere goes the cliche about German politics being stable but dull. Germany finally has a new leader, but only after a day of drama, suspense and historic twists. The conservative Friedrich Merz failed to secure a majority confirming him as chancellor in the first round of voting in the Bundestag. In eight decades of postwar Germany, this has never happened before.When Merz’s cabinet was finally sworn in later on Tuesday afternoon, after a successful second round, both parties in the governing coalition – the conservative CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats (SPD) – were eager to play down the failure as a mere hiccup. But the high drama indicates a new degree of fragmentation and instability in the German party system. It is certain to affect the way this new administration will govern.Jörg Lau is an international correspondent for the German weekly Die Zeit...

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13 h. ago Challenges facing Europe ‘enormous’, says Merz on first trip abroad

The new German chancellor promised a ‘push for Europe’ in a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron in ParisFrance and Germany will seek to jumpstart their relationship, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz have said on the new German chancellor’s first trip abroad, working “systematically together” in a “new push for Europe”.Merz told the two leaders’ joint news conference in Paris on Wednesday that a reset in Franco-German relations was vital to help Europe become more secure, competitive and unified so it can overcome “enormous” security and economic challenges. Continue reading...

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20 h. ago Friedrich Merz to visit Warsaw and Paris in first trip as German chancellor to stress European unity

Friedrich Merz has made his world-affairs debut as Germany’s new chancellor

Events

31 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

31 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...

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34 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

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35 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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37 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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37 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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37 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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38 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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38 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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38 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...

Politics

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

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

Politics

38 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...

Politics

38 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

Politics

39 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

40 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

40 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

40 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

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