CDU president Friedrich Merz was not elected chancellor today, contrary to expectations, as he fell short of the votes he would have needed to form a majority in parliament.
Merz needed 316 votes in the 630-seat Bundestag but only received 310, which is a significant loss of face for the Christian Democrat leader, as 18 MPs who had been expected to back him dissented.
Reports highlight that such a failure in the first vote is unprecedented in modern German history.
The Bundestag will now have another 14 days to choose either Merz or another candidate as chancellor.
