Conservative leader Friedrich Merz has been elected as new chancellor in the second round of voting in the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament. Merz's failure to win enough support earlier today was the first time in Germany's postwar history that a candidate missed a majority in the first round of voting.

Germany’s Friedrich Merz has formally become chancellor at the second attempt, hours after an unprecedented defeat signaled deep discontent within his coalition.

For the first time since the founding of the Federal Republic, two rounds of voting were necessary to elect a chancellor. After failing to secure an absolute majority in the first round on Tuesday, the president of the Christian Democratic Union was finally installed.