Friedrich Merz suffered a rocky start as Germany’s new leader. It’s the first time since World War II that an incoming chancellor failed to get enough support in the first round of voting. The shock vote represents a huge embarrassment for Merz and raises concerns on his ability to steer government business.

Friedrich Merz's unprecedented first-round failure in the vote to make him German chancellor on Tuesday gave a boost to the far-right AfD, which just days ago was reeling from being officially labelled an extremist threat to democracy.

Friedrich Merz was elected chancellor by the German parliament Tuesday in a second round of voting, after failing to secure an absolute majority in an earlier round. His appointment ends six months of political deadlock in the country,