Friedrich Merz needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes in a closed ballot to become the country's tenth Federal Chancellor.
A formality, it seemed, and in the second ballot, he also got 325 votes.
But what ultimately became Merz's big day began with a shocking result – for the first time, a nominated Chancellor failed to be elected in the first vote. He then got only 310 votes despite his coalition consisting of Christian Democratic CDU/CSU and Social Democratic SPD having 328 seats in the Federal Diet.
A historic defeat, wrote German media, but Merz took it with greater calm.
It's normal that not everyone agrees, he says in ARD.
The important thing is that he was ultimately elected, not that he gets to know who in the coalition parties voted against him, he continues in the public service channel.
It has been a day of honesty.
Restore Confidence
In his first speech as Chancellor, Merz emphasized that his government stands for middle-of-the-road politics and that he is convinced that the government together with the Federal Diet will be able to solve all the problems Germany faces.
In the interview with ARD, he continues on the theme and says that he will do everything he can to win back the votes CDU has lost to the right-wing nationalist AFD, which became the second-largest party in the election in February.
I will restore people's confidence in the political middle and make sure they no longer feel a need to vote for a party like AFD.
A Well-Chilled Favorite Beer
But Tuesday's political work was not over for Merz's part. After being appointed Federal Chancellor by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, both he himself and his ministers would take an oath.
And late in the evening, at 10 pm, a first cabinet meeting awaits, reports Tagesschau, a meeting that was supposed to take place at 6 pm had the day gone as planned.
Only after that awaits a happier celebration, writes Bild.
The new government is to gather for a "rustic" celebration at the Chancellor's residence, where, among other things, his favorite beer, a pils from his home region in Sauerland in North Rhine-Westphalia, will be served from a well-chilled beer barrel.
Merz himself is said to drink in moderation. According to plan, he is to travel to Paris early Wednesday morning and then on to Warsaw later in the day.
The election result, when all 299 constituencies have been counted:
Christian Democratic CDU/CSU: 28.6 percent (+4.4 percentage points since the last election.)
Democratic SPD: 16.4 percent)
The Greens: 11.6 percent (-3.1)
Liberal FDP: 4.3 percent (-7.1)
Left-wing party Die Linke: 8.8 percent (+3.9)
Right-wing nationalist AFD: 20.8 percent (+10.4)
Left-conservative BSW: 4.9 percent (not in the last election)
Source: German Election Authority
