Friedrich Merz was poised to be sworn in Germany’s 10th chancellor on Tuesday morning, but he failed to win enough votes in parliament, which is usually merely a symbolic step. In a secret ballot, he was just six votes short of a 316-vote majority.

Parliament now has two weeks to try to rally support to make Mr. Merz or another candidate chancellor in a second vote. There is no limit on the number of votes that can take place. It was not immediately clear whether lawmakers would attempt another vote on Tuesday or wait.

If Mr. Merz fails to secure a majority in a subsequent votes, the process enters a third phase when lawmakers can select a new chancellor using relative majority. This means that more than one candidate would be put forward and the one with the most votes, not necessarily a majority, would win. Since Mr. Merz’s Christian Democrats have the most seats, he, or someone else in that party, would likely win.