In a surprising turn of events, Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's conservative CDU/CSU, failed to secure the necessary parliamentary majority to become chancellor during the first round of voting on Tuesday. This setback poses a significant challenge for his newly formed coalition with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).
Merz, 69, who led his party to victory in the federal elections held in February, received only 310 votes in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. According to Bundestag President Julia Kloeckner, he required a minimum of 316 votes to achieve the majority needed for election. Following the failed vote, Kloeckner announced a temporary suspension of the parliamentary session to allow parliamentary groups to discuss the next steps.
The Bundestag now has a 14-day window to elect either Merz or another candidate for chancellor who can secure an outright majority. A subsequent vote could take place as early as Tuesday.
The CDU/CSU coalition emerged victorious in the national elections, garnering 28.5% of the vote. However, the party's need for coalition partners became evident after the SPD, which achieved only 16.4%—the lowest result in its post-war history—joined forces with Merz's conservatives to establish a governing majority.
The inability of Merz to secure the chancellorship on the first attempt raises questions about the stability of the new coalition and the challenges it may face in governance moving forward. The political landscape in Germany remains fluid as both parties navigate the complexities of coalition politics.
