German conservative leader Friedrich Merz failed to garner the parliamentary majority needed to become chancellor on Tuesday in an unexpected setback for his new coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats.

Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) looks on after a faction meeting, following the announcement of the result as he fails to be elected chancellor by German parliament, in Berlin,

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