Friedrich Merz elected German Chancellor in second-round Bundestag vote
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(AFP Photo)
Berlin: Friedrich Merz from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was elected as Germany's new Chancellor following a second-round vote in the Bundestag on Tuesday. In the first round earlier in the day, Merz fell short of securing the required majority, receiving only 310 votes. However, in the second round, he garnered 325 votes, surpassing the 316-seat threshold needed for election. This marks the first time since World War II that a Chancellor candidate failed to secure an election in the first round.
Following his victory, Merz headed to Schloss Bellevue, the Federal President's official residence, where he was formally appointed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Merz will now assume the office of Chancellor, leading a government formed by the Union bloc (CDU/CSU) in coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Merz, born in 1955 in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, studied law and briefly served as a judge at the Saarbrücken District Court. His political career includes time as a member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1994 and as a Bundestag member from 1994 to 2009. He led the CDU/CSU parliamentary group from 2000 to 2002. After leaving active politics in 2009, Merz returned in 2018 after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision not to seek re-election. He subsequently became chairman of the CDU and leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.
Beyond politics, Merz has worked for an international law firm and chaired the "Atlantic Bridge" association, promoting German-American cooperation. He is also well-established in the business world, gaining a reputation as a pro-business figure within the CDU. His economic agenda includes a focus on revitalizing Germany's economy, with an aim for an average annual growth rate exceeding two percent.
On immigration, Merz advocates for a firmer stance, while on foreign policy, he supports reducing Europe’s reliance on the United States and rebuilding Germany’s global standing. Political analysts predict that Merz will pursue a more conservative approach in office.
With IANS inputs