Bundestag confirmed Friedrich Merz as Germany's new chancellor in a successful second vote after he unexpectedly lost an initial round earlier on Tuesday. Merz won 325 votes in favour — higher than the 316 required.

Social Democratic coalition, Friedrich Merz, suffered a shock defeat Tuesday in his bid to become chancellor after failing to secure a majority in a vote in the Bundestag.

Friedrich Merz succeeded in his bid to become the next German chancellor during a second vote in parliament, hours after he suffered a historic defeat in the first round.