In certain instances, the voting margin in the German parliament (Bundestag) was slim for specific Chancellors.

Chancellor Merz's Rocky Start: A Tense Day in the Bundesgartentag

German Parliament Elections Edge Closer for Select Chancellors

Germany's political landscape is buzzing with anticipation as Friedrich Merz locks horns with the Bundesgatoment for the Chancellor's seat. It ain't a walk in the park, folks. Here's the lowdown on the tense, nail-biting events unfolding today. Buckle up!

14:25: Merz's Majorities: Close Calls in the Bundesgatoment's History

With Merz's epicenter, no candidate's ever flubbed the Chancellor election since its inception—except for dear Friedrich today. Though close calls are nothing new, take a gander at the results since 1949:

14:15: Spahn: Second Round Kicks Off at 15:15 UnionParliamentary Group Leader Jens Spahn announced plans for a second round of elections at 15:15, garnering excitement and pressure alike. European eyes are on Germany, hoping for a stable government ASAP.
14:11: Klingbeil Expects Merz Victory in Second Round SPD Chair Lars Klingbeil emphasized the urgency of assembling a stable government given Germany's economic connundrums and rising political polarization. Klingbeil declared, "I expect that in the second round, there will be a majority for Friedrich Merz to become the next Chancellor."
14:03: Second Round for Merz Today After a disappointing first round result, there's another round in the cards for the Bundesgatoment today. It's a rollercoaster, ain't it?
13:52: Nouripour: Merz Must Deliver His Own Majority Green Vice President Omid Nouripour went on the offensive, questioning Merz's suitability as Chancellor post-defeat. Nouripour stated, "If they can't [get a majority], they won't get far... If it doesn't work without the votes of the opposition, then he [Merz] should ask himself if he's the right one if he can't put together a majority. And if they can't, they should leave it. It's not about someone being elected by borrowed votes. It's about showing that he has a stable majority for four years."
13:40: Scholz's Shock: An Eye-opener It's a historic moment: Merz crashed out of the first round, six votes shy of victory. Noticeably, Scholz himself looked pretty shook by the news.

And the drama ain't over. Let's take a look at what's unfolding:

Government's Election Fiasco: Merz's Surprise Defeat Sparks Talks with The Rojos

13:27: SP and Union Invite Rojos Party Leader for Consultations Following Merz's electoral flop, the SPD and Union courted the Rojos party leader for discussions. Merz's interest in sprinting for the Chancellorship's seat again seems undeterred. Details about the legal requirements are sketchy, but it looks like a two-thirds majority might be necessary to reset the vote, meaning the Rojos could play a pivotal role here.
13:18: Council of Experts: "Germany Needs a Functioning Government Sooner Rather Than Later"Monika Schnitzer, head of the Council of Experts, appealed for a prompt resolution to political and economic instability. While chaos reigns now, there's hope that Germany'll soon welcome a new Chancellor, swiftly forming a stable government.
12:54: Parlimentary Circles: Second Round Possible Today Talks are still in progress between the Union, SPD, Greens, and Rojos factions regarding the timeframe and legalities for a second round. According to rumors swirling among parliamentary circles, a second round could happen today!
12:43: Droge: Greens Push for "Quickest Possible" Second Round Green Co-Chair Katharina Droge expressed her faction's readiness to take responsibility for the parliamentary procedure, aiming to expedite the second round. The Greens are conferring with other democratic factions. However, the ball's in Merz and Klingbeil's court to garner the black-red coalition's majority.
12:28: Van Aken: "The AfD Will Use This Opportunity to Cause Confusion" Rojos party chair Jan Van Aken saw Merz's setback as a defeat not just for Merz but also for Klingbeil. Van Aken predicted the AfD would exploit the confusion created by this political chaos.
12:07: Söder: AfD's Celebrations Show the Stakes CSU leader Markus Söder called on unity among the Union and the black-red coalition. Söder asserted, "Germany needs a democratic government that is capable of action… Democrats should not fear right-wing populists, 'unless we harm ourselves.'" Söder also stressed that the AfD's jubilation over Merz's failed election highlights the importance of stability.
11:55: Linnemann: Examining the Possibility of a Second Vote Today CDU Secretary-General Carsten Linnemann revealed they're currently probing if a second vote can take place today. Although the legal landscape's fuzzy—never been there, after all—it doesn't seem promising.
11:51: SPD MP Wallstein: "Now, I'm Uncertain" SPD MP Maja Wallstein admitted feeling uncertain about the future of the black-red coalition following Merz's surprise defeat. Wallstein remarked, "Honestly, I am now uncertain." While the coalition agreement seems solid, it might not be enough to weather this storm.
11:44: Linnemann: "We Need to Act Quickly Now" CDU Secretary-General Carsten Linnemann pushed for swift action, as they've gotta move fast now! The SPD faction, though, also denies any dissenters in their ranks. According to designated Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, the next vote should occur on Wednesday. "This situation is annoying," Wadephul said, "But it's not a drama."
11:35: "News at Bellevue Hit Like a Small Bomb" Chaos reigned at Schloss Bellevue as preparations for the new Chancellor Merz were in full swing. Reporters on-site described the atmosphere as surprised and confused.
11:29: Factions Negotiating to Trim the Deadline for Wednesday Vote Union, SPD, Greens, and Rojos faction leaders are negotiating to chop the deadline for a new vote to Wednesday. A two-thirds majority's needed for this, and though Merz's faction has massive support, that might not be enough. Someinsiders suspect that missing votes originated from the SPD ranks.
11:11: Scholz Didn't Expect Defeat: "That's Absurd" Olaf Scholz, taken aback by the failure of the Chancellor election, told Stern, "No! That's absurd." Chalk one up to the unforeseen, huh? But there's still time to rectify the situation.
10:59: SPD Denies Responsibility for Merz's Defeat The SPD distanced itself from Merz's failure, with sources confirming they provided unwavering support. However, there were rumblings that dissatisfaction with Klingbeil's power might've contributed to the withheld support. Since the vote was secret, we won't know for sure what went down.
10:52: Weidel: Merz Should "Step Down Immediately" After Merz's defeat, AfD party leader Alice Weidel called for Merz's resignation and demanded fresh elections. The AfD's more than willing to step up as a government if given the opportunity.

Of course, things might take a different turn as additional rounds of voting roll around. Who knows? This could drag on for a while, and only time will tell if Merz's second stab at the chancellorship pays off. Stay tuned for updates, folks!

In the second round of elections, scheduled for 15:15, Union Parliamentary Group Leader Jens Spahn expects Friedrich Merz to become the next Chancellor, given the necessity of a two-thirds majority to reset the vote.
Green Vice President Omid Nouripour has questioned Merz's suitability as Chancellor and suggested that if he cannot consolidate a majority, he should reconsider his candidacy.
As negotiations take place between the Union, SPD, Greens, and Rojos factions regarding a second round, rumors suggest that parliamentary circles anticipate the second round might happen today.
Rojos party chair Jan Van Aken has indicated that the confusion arising from Merz's defeat could provide an opportunity for the right-wing populist AfD party to cause disarray in German politics.