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Friedrich Merz, who has been at the forefront of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and was anticipated as a strong candidate for chancellor, faced an unexpected defeat in a crucial parliamentary voting session. On Tuesday morning, he garnered insufficient support to become the next leader, breaking a longstanding precedent in German politics. Historically, potential chancellors have always succeeded in their first attempt to secure the position. With enough coalition votes to still elect a chancellor, Merz now requires concerted efforts to sway the remaining members of his coalition who abstained. As uncertainty looms over when a second voting session will occur, political analysts continue to watch the development closely. This moment marks a pivotal point in Germany's political landscape, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for Merz and his party moving forward.