Friedrich Merz has succeeded in his bid to become the next German chancellor during a second vote in parliament, hours after he suffered a historic defeat in the first round.

Friedrich Merz's failure on Tuesday to win the required absolute majority in parliament to be elected chancellor of Germany leaves him weakened but not yet defeated.Here is the procedure for electing a successor to the outgoing chancellor,

Mr. Merz needed two rounds of voting to become chancellor after a surprising defeat in Parliament hours earlier that threatened to hobble his new government.