GERMANY-POLITICS-PARLIAMENT-ELECTION-CHANCELLOR

Designated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (2ndL) is congratulated by North Rhine-Westphalia's State Premier and Member of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Hendrik Wuest under the eyes of the co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Tino Chrupalla (back L) and Alice Weidel (C) and honorary chairman of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alexander Gauland (R) after a second round of voting during a session at the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) where the parliament is to elect the Germany's next Chancellor, in Berlin on May 6, 2025. German lawmakers on May 6, 2025 elected conservative Friedrich Merz as chancellor in a second-round vote, a victory marred by his surprise defeat in an initial ballot. Merz, 69, scored an absolute majority of 325 against 289 in the secret vote in the lower house of parliament. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)