Berlin (Germany), May 6 (LaPresse) – The Bundestag has elected Friedrich Merz as Federal Chancellor of Germany in the second round. The CDU leader received 325 votes. A majority of 316 votes was required to be elected Chancellor. In the first round, Merz received only 310 votes. In the second round, 618 votes were cast: 3 were invalid, 325 in favor, 289 against, and 1 abstention. “I thank you for your trust and accept the election,” said Merz in response to a question from Bundestag President Julia Klöckner. The President of the German Parliament then briefly suspended the session. Following the favourable vote in the Bundestag in the second round, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially appointed CDU leader Friedrich Merz as the new German chancellor at Bellevue Palace.