Merz elected as German Chancellor on second attempt: Who's joining his team

Merz was elected by the Bundestag on the second attempt. In the first round, the CDU/CSU candidate failed to secure an absolute majority, receiving only 310 votes. Such an incident is unprecedented in the country's post-war history.

After the failed first vote, the Bundestag session was temporarily suspended for party consultations. In the second round, 325 lawmakers voted in favor of appointing Friedrich Merz as Germany’s Chancellor (the vote was secret). A total of 289 voted against, and 1 abstained.

Merz needed at least 316 votes out of 630 to be elected. The CDU and SPD together hold 328 seats in the Bundestag. With this result, the 69-year-old Merz becomes Germany's tenth federal Chancellor.

To formally assume office, Merz must still receive an official certificate of appointment from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace. Once he receives the document, he will officially become chancellor and return to the Bundestag to take the oath of office.

After Merz’s appointment, the new German government is expected to be confirmed.

Previously, the leaders of the Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union, and the Social Democratic Party of Germany signed a 144-page coalition agreement in Berlin. This document will serve as the foundation for the new German government.

The CDU/CSU bloc has released the list of ministers set to serve in Germany’s new government:

• Boris Pistorius will remain in his current post as Defense Minister.

• Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the SPD, is expected to become Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor.

• Bärbel Bas, former Bundestag President, is set to be appointed Labor Minister.

• Verena Hubertz, former deputy head of the SPD parliamentary group, will serve as Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building.

• Carsten Schneider is nominated as Environment Minister.

• Stefanie Hubig, former Education Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, is expected to become Justice Minister.

• Reem Alabali-Radovan, Integration and Federal Commissioner of Anti-Racism, will head the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

• Johann Wadephul will lead the Foreign Ministry.

• Alexander Dobrindt will head the Interior Ministry.

An official announcement on the formation of the new government is expected soon, after which the ministers will be sworn in. With this, Germany will have a new government, six months after the collapse of the traffic light coalition.

Who is Friedrich Merz

Friedrich Merz has led the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 2022 and served as the opposition leader in the Bundestag before being elected Chancellor. Before his return to politics, he worked as a corporate lawyer and held senior positions in major companies, including BlackRock Germany.

He advocates active support for Ukraine and the strengthening of European defense policy while calling for caution and coordination at the international level.

He has repeatedly called for Germany to supply Ukraine with Taurus long-range cruise missiles - something the previous chancellor, Olaf Scholz, refused to do despite providing a wide range of other weapons and equipment. However, Merz said he would only deliver Taurus missiles in coordination with European partners.

For more on whether Germany under Friedrich Merz will emerge as a new leader of the Western world, how the new Chancellor is breaking long-standing norms in German politics, and whether Ukraine can expect to receive Taurus missiles, read the material by RBC-Ukraine.

Additionally, on May 5, a formal farewell ceremony for Olaf Scholz was held in the courtyard of the Bendlerblock military complex, marking his departure as Chancellor.

In his speech, Scholz called for unity and the preservation of democratic values. He wished his successor Merz success and good fortune.