Dazzle
Active member
Coalition of the reluctant? Germany's Merz elected chancellor after backbench rebellion He had the votes, he had a new coalition sealed in writing and ratified by party members, so it seemed like a formality. But Friedrich Merz's lifelong dream of finally becoming German chancellor had to be deferred by a few hours, the 69-year old conservative falling at the first hurdle with backbenchers sending a signal.