Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), faced a significant defeat during the first round of voting for the German Chancellor, held in the Bundestag.

Merz fell short of the required parliamentary majority by six votes, a setback attributed to defections within his own party.

This unexpected result has captured the attention of international media, highlighting the implications for Germany's political landscape.

In the United Kingdom, 'The Times' reported that Merz failed to achieve the necessary support in what was described as a setback for his coalition with the center-left Social Democrats.

'The Guardian' noted the shock of Merz's defeat, while 'The Telegraph' characterized the event as a substantial embarrassment for the CDU leader.

Media outlets in the United States offered similar assessments.

'The Washington Post' stated that the failure to secure votes has contributed to a new political crisis following the collapse of the previous government.

'The New York Times' called the outcome a sobering blow to Merz during a period of mounting pressures on Germany economically, politically, and internationally.

'The Wall Street Journal' emphasized the unprecedented nature of the vote's outcome in post-war Germany, with the secret ballot process obfuscating the reasons for the dissenting votes.

In Spain, 'El Mundo' referred to the event as a historical surprise, noting that Merz was let down by 18 members of his party, contrary to expectations.

'El País' described the situation as an entirely unexpected and unparalleled political crisis, while 'Cinco Días' reported a drop exceeding two percent in the German stock market following Merz's unsuccessful bid, which also impacted European indices.

Danish media offered their reactions as well.

The broadcaster DR labeled the outcome a total surprise and a major humiliation for Merz.

The newspaper 'Politiken' raised concerns about the implications for European leadership amid increasing challenges, describing the event as a shock to the continent.

'Berlingske' echoed the sentiment, identifying it as a significant shock in German politics.

Swedish newspapers commented similarly, with 'Dagens Nyheter' noting the historic nature of the defeat, and 'Svenska Dagbladet' highlighting the unexpected outcome that unfolded instead of a triumphant inaugural vote for Merz.

French media emphasized the unusual circumstances of the defeat.

'Les Échos' referred to it as a dramatic failure for Merz, while 'Libération' characterized it as a flawed start for the newly elected winner of the February parliamentary elections, who was anticipated to guide Germany back on track.

'RFI' echoed the sentiment, stating that never before in post-war history had a chancellor candidate experienced such a failure in the initial voting round.