In a historic and unprecedented move, German lawmaker Friedrich Merz has failed to secure enough votes to become Chancellor. Despite his coalition holding 328 seats, Merz received only 310 votes—six short of the 316 required for a majority in the Bundestag. This marks the first time in modern German history that a Chancellor candidate has lost a first-round parliamentary vote. The defeat throws Germany into political uncertainty, with a 14-day window now open for new votes or candidates. Merz’s loss also puts military aid to Ukraine on hold, as he was a strong supporter of Kyiv and a vocal critic of Russia.