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Friedrich Merz elected chancellor in the second round: a new era begins for Germany

After initial rejection in Bundestag, CDU leader wins confidence with a centre-right and centre-left coalition

Friedrich Merz was elected German chancellor by the Bundestag in the second round of voting, overcoming a historic initial rejection that set a precedent in post-war Germany. The 69-year-old CDU leader won the confidence of parliament on Tuesday thanks to a coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU alliance and the centre-left Social Democrats.

The first round had ended in a resounding failure, unprecedented in the past, which had called into question the resilience of the new majority and created great embarrassment around the figure of Merz, presented as the man in charge of relaunching economic growth in a complex global context.

The government’s agreement focuses on incisive economic reforms: lowering taxes on companies, lowering energy costs, decisive support for Ukraine and increasing military spending. It is an ambitious programme that reflects the will to turn the tide both domestically and internationally.

In his first experience in a government post, Merz – who has been a member of the European Parliament since 1989 – will lead a strongly renewed executive. Only Boris Pistorius, Defence Minister in the previous executive, retains his post. The other members of the new cabinet come largely from the private sector, a sign of a strategy oriented towards technical competence and management efficiency.

Merz’s election marks the beginning of a new political phase for Germany, with a leadership that will now have to demonstrate cohesion and concreteness in the face of economic and geopolitical challenges.

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