BERLIN (WAM)
The German Bundestag today elected Friedrich Merz as the new Chancellor of Germany following the Christian Democratic Union’s victory in the early elections held last February.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner announced that Merz secured 325 votes in the second round of the parliamentary vote, attaining the absolute majority required.
Following the announcement, Merz met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who presented him with the official documents to assume office as Chancellor, succeeding Social Democrat Olaf Scholz.
Merz's Christian Democratic Union formed a coalition with the Social Democratic Party, enabling the formation of Germany’s next government.