Merz Becomes New German Chancellor after Initial Rejection in the Bundestag

Friedrich Merz was elected Tuesday, May 6, as the new German Chancellor. In the second round of voting he received 325 votes in the Bundestag, barely surpassing the required 316 majority. However, earlier in this morning, Merz had only received 310 votes in the first round of voting, thereby failing to garner the required number of votes to become Chancellor. This was a first: Never before has a designated Chancellor failed to be elected by following a Bundestag election and successful coalition negotiations.