Germany’s new chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Cabinet hold first full day in office

(7 May 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Berlin - 7 May 2025
1. Pan of reflection of chancellory in Paul Loebe building to Reichstag
2. European and German flags on top of Reichstag building
3. Newspaper headlines “chancellor thriller” and “chancellor infarct”
4. Close of newspaper showing a photograph of new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
5. Newspaper headlines
6. People walking along the Spree river
7. SOUNDBITE (German) Karsten, last name unknown, resident:
“I expect them (the government) to keep their promises, dismantle bureaucracy and reduce migration into our country.”
8. Chancellery
9. Worker at chancellery
10. SOUNDBITE (German) Jeanne Hertwig, resident:
“I don’t like the direction the government is heading. I think it would be better to welcome more migrants then send them back, it's difficult. I hope it is not going that far that people have to leave Germany only because of their origin.”
11. Newspaper headline reading (German) “Merz voted at second attempt”
12. Newspaper with close photograph of Friedrich Merz at newspaper stand
13. SOUNDBITE (German) Michael Gerd, unknown profession:
“The start yesterday was very weak, I thought he would win within the first vote but I believe it was a warning for him (Friedrich Merz).”
14. Close of lifebuoy with German parliament in background
15. Close of flower with German parliament in background
STORYLINE:
Residents in Berlin on Wednesday reacted to Tuesday's chaotic Chancellor election with mixed feelings, some seeing it is as a "warning" for the newly elected Friedrich Merz.

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz succeeded Tuesday in becoming Germany’s next chancellor, drawing applause and a palpable sense of relief in the parliament chamber after a historic loss in the first round of voting threatened the new government's promises of stability.

Merz holds his first full day in office since his troubled election in parliament. High on his agenda will be tackling the issues of a stagnating economy and large-scale migration.

He made his world-affairs debut Wednesday, with plans to immediately team up with allies France and Poland to present a united European front on support for Ukraine and against U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.

The new pairing of Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron — both firm believers in the European Union — could help stiffen resistance from the 27-nation bloc against pressure from Trump and against Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

No other post-war candidate for German chancellor has failed to win on the first ballot. The stunning but short-lived defeat sent shock waves throughout Europe and dragged down the stock market. The DAX, the index of major German companies, fell by 1.8% at one point.

The first round of voting, which was conducted by secret ballot, could affect Merz's prospects for success and bring trouble to his coalition's agenda, which includes reviving a stagnant economy and dealing with the rise of the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party.

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