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’s bid to become Germany’s 10th chancellor has failed in the first round of voting in parliament by six votes. Merz, the conservative leader, was expected to win the vote on Tuesday. He needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes in a secret ballot.

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