Friedrich Merz arrives as a humbled new German chancellor – but that may not be the worst way to start | Jörg Lau

The cliche about German politics being stable yet dull came to an end as former总理Friedrich Merz’s chances of securing a majority in the Bundestag were dashed after the first round of voting. Though he managed to win a second round with support from Greens and the far-left Die Linke, the high-stakes vote revealed deeper political instability in Germany's fragmented system, with Merz now facing challenges from AfD and efforts to bridge divides with Merkel’s center. Berlin suspects disaffected conservatives and unhappy SPD members may have played roles in the outcome, as the new government navigates complex fiscal and trade policies while seeking pragmatic insights into Europe’s future.