♦ Germany’s conservative leader, Friedrich Merz, was elected as the new Chancellor of the country on 6 May 2025.

♦ He secured a majority in the second round of voting in the Lower House of Parliament.

♦ A total of 325 of the 630 lawmakers voted in favour of Merz this time around, bringing him over the necessary 316 threshold.

♦ Earlier, in the first round, only 310 members voted for Merz.

♦ It was the first time since 1949 that a chancellor candidate had not won on the first attempt.