Friedrich Merz has officially taken office as Germany’s new Chancellor after securing a majority in the second round of parliamentary voting. Backed by a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Merz received 325 votes in the Bundestag, surpassing the required 316.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented Merz and his 17-member cabinet with appointment documents at a ceremony in Berlin, followed by oath-taking sessions in parliament. The new government includes eight female ministers. The first cabinet meeting is scheduled for 22:00 local time.

Merz failed to win in the first round, gathering only 310 votes, prompting a delay in the second vote. President Steinmeier called on the new leadership to act with “courage, clarity, and unity.”