Merz elected German chancellor after initial shock defeat

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz was elected chancellor by parliament in a second round of voting after his new alliance with the centre-left Social Democrats was dealt a surprise defeat in the first attempt.

Mr Merz's failure to win parliamentary backing at the first time of asking was a first for post-war Germany and an embarrassment for a man who has promised to revive economic growth at a time of global turbulence.

He won 325 votes in the 630-member assembly, with 289 voting against, attaining an absolute majority.

  "I accept the results of the vote," Merz stated, following his earlier failure in the first round earlier on Tuesday.