Germany’s Merz elected chancellor in second round of voting

Friedrich Merz, Germany's new chancellor, secured 325 votes in the second round after initially failing to win parliamentary backing. Despite leading an alliance with the SPD that garnered 28.5% support, forming a government required collaboration with another party due to internal disagreements within the coalition. The CDU/CSU and SPD plan to address economic growth, Ukraine, and military spending but face criticism for Merz's unpredictable leadership style and potential lack of unity in the coalition. Experts highlight concerns about policy implementation challenges, while some point to the weakening relationship between parties as a future hurdle.