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Conservative party leader clinches chancellorship following unprecedented first-round defeat in Germany.
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Friedrich Merz snatched the title of German Chancellor after a nail-biting defeat in the Bundestag. In a historic turn of events, 325 lawmakers voted for Merz, surpassing the 316-vote threshold in the second round. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) wasted no time in demanding Merz's resignation and fresh elections following his seismic loss in the first round.
This stunning loss marked a first in post-war Germany's history.
Predictions suggested Merz would triumph due to a coalition deal involving his party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU); its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU); and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Alas, the odds took a dramatic twist on Tuesday when Merz received 310 votes, missing the mark by a mere six votes. At least 18 Members of the German Parliament in the coalition failed to back Merz, as reported by Reuters.
In spite of his party's victory in the federal election in February, Merz's fragile coalition left him hanging on the precipice of power. As of now, he still has a shot at the coveted position with the Bundestag allowing him 14 more days to secure the chancellorship. Reports from Germany-based news outlet DW hint at a swift rescheduling of chancellor elections as early as Wednesday.
On the international stage, Merz had been eager to embark on victory tours in France and Poland on Wednesday. Whether he'll sail off as planned amidst the defeat remains uncertain.
Keep up to date with the intriguing developments on our website!
- Breaking news: Friedrich Merz, despite his party's victories, has missed the mark to become the German Chancellor by a mere six votes in the second round of the Bundestag election, sparking demands for resignation and fresh elections from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
- In the world of politics and policy-and-legislation, Merz now faces a 14-day window to secure the chancellorship, with swift rescheduling of chancellor elections potentially taking place as early as Wednesday, as reported by Germany-based news outlet DW.
- Beyond Germany, the breaking news of Merz's defeat also has implications for global relations, as his planned victory tours in France and Poland are now uncertain, thereby affecting war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news of European countries.
