Significantly, Merz began his speech by praising the pro-war and rearmament policies of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz (SPD).

Friedrich Merz, right, talks to outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Credit: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi “We are almost the same age. ... We grew up ...

BERLIN (AP) — 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.

Mr Merz’s commitment to restoring a long-absent German voice to European and international debates is not in doubt, and he ...

A convoy transporting heavy mining equipment from the Malian capital Bamako to Allied Gold's Sadiola mine came under attack in the Kayes region over the weekend, two people familiar with the incident ...

BERLIN — Friedrich Merz was elected chancellor by the German ... deadlock in the country after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government in November. But Merz’s initial defeat ...

(AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Friedrich Merz, right, talks to outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the German federal parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Tuesday, May 6 ...

Olaf Scholz, the now former chancellor of Germany ... today’s second vote confirmed his election as chancellor. As Friedrich Merz took the oath of office as Germany’s chancellor on Tuesday ...

In a historic moment for Germany, the Bundestag witnessed the first failed chancellor election in the country's history. Amid the chaos, former Chancellor Olaf Scholz made headlines for an unexpected ...