Friedrich Merz has secured the chancellorship of Germany in a dramatic second-round vote, overcoming a shocking first-round defeat earlier in the day. With 325 votes in his favor, Merz surpassed the required 316 majority, averting a constitutional crisis. His unexpected first-round loss, which marked the first time in postwar history a chancellor candidate failed to win, had sent shockwaves through German politics. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has expressed outrage at Merz’s victory, demanding his resignation and calling for fresh elections.
