Merz defeat ‘an obstacle not a catastrophe’

Germany’s conservative leader has unexpectedly fallen short of a majority in a parliament vote to become chancellor.

Friedrich Merz needed 316 votes in the 630-seat Bundestag but only secured 310, in a significant blow to the Christian Democrat leader, two and a half months after winning Germany’s federal elections.

His coalition with the centre-left has enough seats in parliament but it appears 18 MPs who had been expected to back him dissented.

Reacting to the vote, Bundestag member Johann Wadephul, who is set to become the country’s new foreign minister, said he expected another vote to be held and that Merz would still become chancellor.