Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz failed to secure enough votes in the initial Bundestag vote to be confirmed as the next German chancellor.

Merz got the support of 310 lawmakers, six short of the majority needed to secure his confirmation. Meanwhile, 307 voted against him and three abstained.

The Bundestag is set to vote again on Merz's appointment within the next 14 days, with the exact timing yet to be confirmed. If he does not get the absolute majority in the second vote either, the president could then either appoint the candidate with the most votes in the third round or to dissolve the Bundestag. Merz is the first German chancellor nominee since World War II to fail to be appointed after the initial vote.