Breaking | Germany’s Friedrich Merz fails to be elected chancellor by parliament

Friedrich Merz’s bid to become Germany’s 10th chancellor has failed in the first round of voting in parliament by six votes.

Merz, the conservative leader, was expected to win the vote on Tuesday. He needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes in a secret ballot. He only received 310 votes.

The lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, now has 14 days to elect Merz or another candidate chancellor with an outright majority.

More to come …