Friedrich Merz Elected Chancellor Of Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his oath of office. (Instagram/Deutscher Bundestag)

JAKARTA - Germany's conservative leader Friedrich Merz was elected chancellor by parliament on Tuesday in the second round of the vote, after an unprecedented defeat in the first attempt to make his coalition government experience a shaky start.

Merz, 69, who led his conservatives to a federal election victory in February and signed a left-ended coalition deal with the Democratic Social Party (SPD), winning 325 votes, nine more than needed for the absolute majority, in a secret vote.

Previously, Merz only won 310 votes in the first round of the vote, meaning at least 18 coalition lawmakers failed to support him.

The failure is likely to increase distrust among coalition partners, said a political analyst, who showed unity far from stable at a time when Europe needed strong leadership from Germany, its largest economy.

"Today's entire Europe views Berlin with the hope that Germany will reaffirm itself as an anchor of pro-European stability and strength," said Jana Puglierin, head of Berlin's office of the European Council's think tank for Foreign Relations.

"Hope it has disappeared," he continued.

Meanwhile, Merz said he would rather go straight to work than think about the motives of people who failed to support him in the first round.

"I have no doubt, after today, we will cooperate in this coalition with mutual trust," he told state broadcaster ARD, adding his top priority was securing state freedom and restoring his economic competitiveness.

Merz holds the position as Europe struggles to agree to security guarantees Ukraine will offer, as part of a ceasefire agreement with Russia and to negotiate trade agreements with the United States.

The German coalition deal has mapped plans to revive growth, such as reducing company taxes and lowering energy prices. The deal also promises strong support for Ukraine and higher military spending.

After Tuesday's vote, Merz headed for nearby Bellevue Palace to be officially nominated by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier before returning to the historic Reichstag building to take the oath of office, becoming Germany's 10th chancellor since the end of the Second World War.

On Wednesday he made his first trip as a chancellor to major French and Polish allies, in a bid to show Germany return to the world stage after the previous SPD-led coalition collapse in November, a countdown to February's election and then months of bargaining.

On Thursday, he will speak by telephone with President Trump, even meeting with him before a NATO meeting at the end of June, Chancellor Merz told broadcaster ZDF.

Merz is known for his rough and erratic style. His failure to gain support for his candidate position in the first attempt was the first for postwar Germany.

Merz's appointed cabinet reflects confidence in the need for expertise rather than political capital and a desire for updates given the reduced trust in stability, analysts say.

The Minister of Economy and several other cabinet members are newly appointed people who have experience in the private sector in their specialty fields.

Only one minister from the previous administration will defend his post, namely Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Some in Europe remain optimistic that Merz, a seasoned politician who started his career as a member of the European parliament in 1989, will think more about Europe than his predecessor, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party.