Berlin: Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has taken his oath of office after being elected by parliament earlier on Tuesday. The conservative politician needed two attempts to be elected to the post by lawmakers, which marked an unprecedented turn of events. During the Bundestag ceremony, Merz pledged to dedicate his strength to the welfare of the German people, to increase its benefit, and to avert harm from it.

According to Ghana News Agency, Merz, a member of the Christian Democrats, concluded the oath with the optional phrase 'so help me God,' unlike his predecessor Olaf Scholz.