Overview

• Friedrich Merz was elected Chancellor of Germany after failing to secure a majority in the first Bundestag ballot, a first in German political history.
• Merz's approval rating stands at 32%, with 59% of Germans viewing him as a poor choice for chancellor, according to an ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll.
• In his initial diplomatic efforts, Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to a 'Neustart' to revitalize Franco-German relations, including a new Defence and Security Council.
• During his visit to Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized Merz's proposed border controls and migration policies, signaling friction between the two nations.
• Domestically, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced stricter asylum policies, including turning back asylum seekers at the border, as part of the new government's agenda.