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.

The new German chancellor has taken a hard line on immigration, as well as against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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,