Friedrich Merz has failed to secure enough support to become Germany’s next chancellor, falling short by six votes in the Bundestag’s first round of voting. In a secret ballot held on Tuesday, Merz received 310 votes in favour, just under the required 316 needed to secure a majority in the 630-member parliament.
The traditional leader’s victory was a shocking setback for him after Olaf Scholz’s coalition government was set to fall last year. The coalition’s funding parties previously approved a deal, giving them a sizable majority of the 328 seats. Some politicians, however, appear to had sided with one another.
The Bundestag will now have two more rounds of voting, and a simple majority of politicians will be enough to elect him in the third and final large. The vote, which took place on the day of the 80th commemoration of Germany’s absolute retreat in World War II, was the first time a president member failed in the first round since the conflict.
With the support of Merz’s CDU/CSU empire and the center-left SPD, which collectively hold 328 chairs, it was anticipated to be formal. However, three MPs narrowed his way by abstaining, one vote was illegitimate, and nine were excluded. MPs from the far-right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ), which recently received a victory of over 20 % in the election, greeted the outcome with cheers.
After his three-party partnership fell apart in November, Merz wants to take over Olaf Scholz. The CDU president has pledged to concentrate on border protection, border protection, and a tougher stance on immigration. His waiting government has previously approved a sizable budget to repair the impoverished defense and facilities.
However, his inability to win the first election raises tensions in the new coalition and growing public anger, with the AfD today officially labeled a “right-wing radical” gathering by Germany’s intelligence services. Despite this classification, US officials, including Marco Rubio, who claimed that Germany was pursuing a political rival, received pushback from these officers.
A majority of the Bundestag’s members must choose a president in 14 days. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has the power to appoint the prospect with the most help, or dissolve parliament to hold a new poll, if no one receives the necessary seats.
