12:11 (10:11)⇢Merz's Historic Chancellor Election Failure
⌨The newspapers report on two major stories today. First, German conservative leader Friedrich Merz has failed to be elected chancellor in the first round of voting, an unprecedented occurrence in post-war Germany (France TV Info, Le Monde, Les Echos, L'Express, Libération, L'Obs). He will now face a second round where only a relative majority will be required. Second, TV personality Stéphane Plaza has been arrested and placed in police custody in an investigation into drug trafficking, with cocaine reportedly found at his home (BFMTV, Le Parisien). Meanwhile, Mediapart reveals a confidential study on juvenile detention centers that the government allegedly wants to suppress.