Now it’s neither.This was the central message from the chaotic transfer of power on Tuesday that saw Friedrich Merz, the conservative winner of the last election, take the helm of the world’s third-largest economy.

Friedrich Merz has been confirmed as the new chancellor of Germany after a second vote in the country’s parliament, hours after falling six votes short at the first attempt in an unprecedented and humiliating defeat.

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz failed to secure enough parliamentary votes to become chancellor in a major blow.