Germany's conservative leader Friedrich Merz has been elected as the country's next chancellor. Newsweek's live blog is closed.

Mr. Merz needed two rounds of voting to become chancellor after a surprising defeat in Parliament hours earlier that threatened to hobble his new government.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet President Trump at the White House, where they are expected to discuss issues including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as tariffs and trade.

View Friedrich Merz’s Fast Facts on CNN and learn about the chancellor of Germany.

A coalition deal secured Friedrich Merz's victory as Germany's chancellor after a first-ever loss in the first round.

Merz's office said the new German leader, who took the helm of Europe's biggest economy on May 6, will meet Trump on Thursday — the first in-person meeting between the two.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday, a day after meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, that he encountered a U.S. administration open to discussion.

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz failed to secure enough parliamentary votes to become chancellor in a major blow.

Friedrich Merz was meant to be riding to Europe’s rescue. Instead, he has fallen flat on his face. The chancellor-in-waiting was forced to stay in waiting, after a humiliating defeat on Tuesday ...

Germany had been thrown into political chaos earlier today as Merz's bid to become the country's 10th chancellor shockingly failed in the first round of voting in parliament by just six votes this ...

Friedrich Merz failed to be elected German chancellor Tuesday, after he fell short of securing a majority in a shock first-round parliamentary vote.

Germany had been thrown into political chaos earlier today as Merz's bid to become the country's 10th chancellor shockingly failed in the first round of voting in parliament by just six votes this ...