Friedrich Merz wins in 2nd ballot to become Germany's chancellor

FRIEDRICH Merz succeeded Tuesday in his bid to become the next German chancellor during a second vote in parliament, hours after he suffered a historic defeat in the first round.

- 

The conservative leader had been expected to smoothly win the vote to become Germany's 10th chancellor since World War II. No other postwar candidate for chancellor has failed to win on the first ballot.

Merz received 325 votes in the second ballot. He needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes but only received 310 in the first round—well short of the 328 seats held by his coalition.

Because the votes were secret ballots, it was not immediately clear—and might never be known—who defected from Merz's camp.