After Merz Loses in Political
Germany’s conservative leader has encountered an unexpected setback in his pursuit of the chancellorship , failing to obtain a parliamentary majority.
Friedrich Merz needed a minimum of 316 votes in the 630-seat Bundestag but received only 310, marking a major setback for the leader of the Christian Democrats, just two and a half months after his party’s success in the federal elections.
Although his coalition with the center-left holds enough seats in Parliament , 18 MPs who were expected to support him appear to have broken ranks. Merz’s inability to win the chancellorship on the initial vote is considered an unusual event in contemporary German political history.
The Bundestag now has a 14-day window to elect Merz or another contender with the support of more than half its members. According to the German constitution, there is no limit on the number of voting rounds during this period. However, if an absolute majority is not reached, a candidate can still be elected with a simple majority.
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No additional votes were anticipated immediately , and the atmosphere was largely one of uncertainty.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner was reportedly preparing for a second vote on Wednesday, though Christian Democratic General Secretary Carsten Linnemann expressed hopes for another round of voting before the end of the day.
Europe needs a strong Germany, and that’s why we can’t afford to wait several days,” he told German television. Political analysts view Merz’s defeat as a significant embarrassment, likely caused by a small group of discontented Social Democratic (SPD) members, despite the SPD having finalized a coalition agreement with the conservatives just a day earlier.
Social Democratic (SPD)
While some within the SPD have expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement, party leaders insisted they remain fully committed to the coalition.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner reported to parliament that out of the 630 members, nine were not present, three abstained from voting, and one vote was rendered invalid. Merz’s unprecedented failure carries significant weight and will likely leave a lasting mark.
No chancellor candidate has experienced such a defeat since 1949. The setback in Tuesday’s vote deals a blow to Merz’s efforts to present himself as a remedy for the instability and fragmentation that plagued the previous government, which fell apart late last year.
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Alternative for Germany (AfD)
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which secured second place in the February election with 20.8% of the vote, quickly capitalized on Merz’s setback and called for new elections. Co-leader Alice Weidel posted on X, criticizing the vote as evidence of “the fragile foundation of the small coalition between the [ Conservatives ] and SPD,
Which voters have already rejected.”
Christian Democrat Johann Wadephul, Merz’s pick for foreign minister, told the BBC that the result was “a setback, but not a disaster.” “We will make a second attempt, again with Friedrich Merz as the coalition’s candidate,” he said. “And I am confident he will be elected and become the next chancellor.
Germany’s transfer of power is typically a well-orchestrated process. On the evening before Monday’s vote, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz was honored with a traditional Grand Tattoo ceremony performed by a military band. At 69, Friedrich Merz was widely expected to win the vote and then proceed to meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to be officially sworn in, realizing his long-standing goal of becoming Chancellor .
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel even returned to the Bundestag to witness the vote in person. Members of the outgoing administration had scheduled their handovers to incoming ministers for Tuesday afternoon.
- Merz now faces a critical decision: whether to move forward with a second vote alongside his coalition partners, despite the risk of another defeat.
Government Succeeds
Merz’s defeat has raised concerns about possible fractures within the coalition. Political observers in the Bundestag noted that the lack of unified support for Merz suggests internal tensions that could persist even if the coalition eventually assumes power. “This is not a good sign,” cautioned Green politician Katrin Göring-Eckardt.
Traffic Light
While I don’t support this chancellor, I would warn against celebrating instability.” Just a day earlier, the narrative had been far more optimistic, with hopes of ending six months of political stalemate and bringing in a period of stability under a new government.
“It is our historic duty to make sure this government succeeds,” Merz stated as he signed the coalition agreement. Despite holding a slim 12-seat majority, the partnership between the conservatives and center-left was considered more cohesive than the previous “traffic light” alliance of three parties, which collapsed last November over disputes on debt policy.
The SPD, which had been the leading force in the former coalition, dropped to third place in the recent election-its worst post-war result.Merz had pledged to restore Germany’s international standing and revitalize its ailing economy.
After two years of recession, Germany’s economy began to show signs of recovery, with modest growth in the first quarter of 2025.
However, economists have cautioned that U.S. tariffs could pose a threat. could pose a risk to German exports. Additionally, the services sector contracted last month due to weakened demand and declining consumer spending.
