Merz's Bid for Chancellorship Falls Short in First Round, but He Eventually Secures the Position
- AFP, BERLIN
Vote for chancellor sees Merz suffering defeat in initial round
In a stunning turn of events, Germany's former conservative leader Friedrich Merz faced a setback in his pursuit of the chancellorship when he failed to secure a majority in the first round of voting, garnering the support of only 310 parliamentarians, while 307 voted against him.
Friedrich Merz had been seen as a shoo-in for the role, but this post-war history-making misstep prolonged the political deadlock in Berlin that has persisted since the collapse of Olaf Scholz's coalition government.
Merz had aimed for an absolute majority of at least 316 votes in the lower house of parliament but fell short, highlighting the intricate politics at play behind the scenes.
his failure to secure the required votes in the first round was surprising given that a coalition of the CDU/CSU alliance, which won the general elections in February, and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) of Scholz, who together have 328 seats, was thought to be in place.
Photo: Reuters
Merz's defeat didn't signal the end of his campaign, however. He will have at least one more round of voting in the Bundestag, although the timing of this round is uncertain. In the final round, a simple majority of lawmakers would suffice to see Merz elected.
Germany's political calendar was upended by this shocking turn of events, with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's swearing-in of the new Cabinet and Merz's planned visits to Paris and Warsaw put on hold.
Despite the initial setback, Merz remained hopeful, vowing to revive the ailing economy, curb irregular migration, and strengthen Berlin's role in Europe amid increasingly turbulent times.
Famous for his staunch conservative views, Merz may prove to be a divisive figure, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) heralding the surprise result as a "good day for Germany."
Internally, some critics accused Merz and his designated vice chancellor, Lars Klingbeil of the SPD, of allowing the situation to escalate through mismanagement of party dynamics and negotiations.
Although Merz wasn't successful in the first round of voting, he eventually rallied enough support to earn the position of chancellor, demonstrating his ability to build a coalition[1][2]. The specifics of the negotiations and reasons for the initial lack of majority remain unclear, as they are often complex and involve ongoing discussions among parties.
- In the first round of voting, Friedrich Merz failed to secure a majority in the Bundestag, with 310 voting in his favor and 307 against, prolonging the political deadlock in Berlin.
- The unexpected setback in Merz's pursuit of the chancellorship meant that his visits to Paris and Warsaw, as well as President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's swearing-in of the new Cabinet, were put on hold.
- Despite the initial setback, Merz remained hopeful, vowing to address key issues such as reviving the economy, curbing irregular migration, and strengthening Berlin's role in Europe amid increasingly turbulent times.
- The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) heralded Merz's unexpected victory in the first round as a "good day for Germany," while internal criticism was leveled at Merz and his designated vice chancellor, Lars Klingbeiel of the SPD, for mismanagement of party dynamics and negotiations.
- Although Merz wasn't successful in the first round of voting, he eventually rallied enough support to earn the position of chancellor, demonstrating his ability to build a coalition, albeit with complex discussions among parties and ongoing legislative policy concerns.
