Berlin/Paris/Warsaw, 7 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) — The day after his dramatic election in parliament as German chancellor, Friedrich Merz set off on the first trip abroad of his administration on Wednesday, heading first for France and then Poland.

In Paris, Merz plans to talk to French President Emmanuel Macron about, among other things, how Europe can become more independent following the radical change of course in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump.

In Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk is likely to discuss migration as well as the Russian war against Ukraine.

Merz had previously announced that there would be a tightening of border checks and increased turning back of migrants from his first day in office. Poland is skeptical about the measures, however.

Merz was elected chancellor on the second attempt on Tuesday, after he suffered a historic defeat in a first round of voting in the lower house.

By the evening, however, he had been formally appointed chancellor and his predecessor Olaf Scholz had handed over the reins of power in the Chancellery, which will be Merz's headquarters for the next four years.