<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The President of the Government Pedro Sánchez congratulated conservative leader Friedrich Merz on his election as German Chancellor this Tuesday.</strong></h4> “Congratulations, Friedrich Merz, on your election as the new German Chancellor,” Sánchez wrote on social media. “Germany and Spain have always demonstrated their commitment to the European project, with shared interests and objectives,” he continued. “Let us continue working for a united and strong Europe,” he concluded. For his part, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares congratulated his new German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, and wished his predecessor, Annalena Baerbock, “good luck.” “Congratulations, Johann Wadephul, on your appointment as German Foreign Minister. We look forward to working together to further strengthen the excellent relations between Spain and Germany,” José Manuel Albares wrote on social media. “Together, we guarantee Europe's democratic values, the strength of our economy, and the security of our citizens,” he added. “We promote democracy against extremism and a strong European presence in the world for peace and multilateralism.” “Dear Annalena Baerbock, It has been a pleasure working together these years for Spanish-German friendship and to build the European project. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors,” the Foreign Minister wrote in another message. Friedrich Merz was finally elected chancellor of Germany on Tuesday in a second round of voting in the Bundestag, after suffering an unprecedented defeat in the first attempt. Merz, who led the CDU in the early federal elections in February and signed a coalition agreement with the SPD Social Democrats, obtained 325 votes, nine more than the 316 needed for an absolute majority. This result launches his coalition government, which has gotten off to a weak start after the surprise initial defeat. In the first round of voting, Merz fell just six votes short of an absolute majority, with 310 votes in his favor, raising questions about internal support for the coalition between his party and the SPD. The coalition agreement was signed between Merz (CDU), Lars Klingbeil (SPD), who will serve as vice chancellor and finance minister, Saskia Esken (SPD co-chair), and Markus Söder (CSU), leader of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria. However, the lack of unity during the first round of voting reflected tensions within the coalition. Following the victory in the second round, Merz will assume the office of chancellor, although recent events leave open the question of how stable this government will be, given the difficulty he encountered in securing parliamentary support from the outset. European leaders congratulated Friedrich Merz on his election as chancellor of Germany, highlighting his commitment to Europe and future collaboration. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that Merz's arrival in office is an opportunity to work together to strengthen a stronger and more competitive Europe. She highlighted his closeness to Europe, describing him as a "friend and connoisseur of Europe," which bodes well for a close collaboration between the two. For his part, António Costa, President of the European Council, also congratulated Merz and expressed his enthusiasm for the possibility of working on an "ambitious common agenda" for Europe. He reiterated his commitment to working together to ensure a strong Europe, emphasizing the importance of moving forward together towards this goal. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, highlighted Merz's leadership qualities, highlighting his determination and commitment as key factors for strengthening Germany and Europe. She emphasized that Merz is a "reliable and trustworthy partner" and expressed her optimism for a fruitful collaboration in the future, both for Germany and for the European Union.
