Friedrich Merz travels to Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday on his first foreign trip as German chancellor, still reeling from a humiliating setback in Tuesday’s government transition that raised early questions about his leadership.

Traditionally, newly elected German chancellors make a point of visiting their big neighbors in the west and east on the first day in office to stress European unity. The stops in Paris and Warsaw are happening on the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War II.

Friedrich Merz has been elected by the German parliament to replace Olaf Scholz as chancellor, a political shift closely watched in neighbouring Poland, which he is set to visit on Wednesday.