Historic Setback: Friedrich Merz Fails to Secure Chancellor Votes in First Round
In an unprecedented turn of events, Friedrich Merz was unable to secure enough support to be elected Chancellor in the first voting round of the Bundestag. To achieve victory, he needed 316 votes, which is the majority required by the Basic Law. However, out of 621 voting members, only 310 cast their votes in favor of him while 307 opposed, with three abstentions and one invalid vote registered.
The coalition parties, the Union and the SPD, claimed full attendance during the voting process, which meant Merz should have theoretically received at least 328 votes. This discrepancy highlights that a significant number of members from both the CDU/CSU and the SPD—specifically at least 18—did not support his candidacy. The CDU and CSU hold 208 seats combined in the Bundestag, and the SPD has 120 members.
Prior to the official vote, practice sessions were conducted within each faction, which did not indicate any dissent among members. Following the failed first ballot, the SPD asserted that there was no responsibility on their part for the outcome, believing their members had provided complete support. Lars Klingbeil, the SPD chairman, communicated that he was unaware of any members not backing Merz.
As a result of this failure, a second voting round will not take place today, as decided after consultations between the Union and SPD. If a candidate does not secure an absolute majority in the first two rounds—commonly known as the Chancellor majority—the third round will permit a relative majority, allowing whoever receives the most votes to be elected.
In the meantime, Olaf Scholz will continue his role as caretaker Chancellor. Although he was scheduled to pass over the office to his successor at 3 PM today, this transfer has been postponed. Scholz had already received his discharge certificate from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the end of March, when the new Bundestag convened, and was asked to remain in office until the next Chancellor is appointed.
The failure of Merz in this first round marks a historical first; throughout modern German history, every previous Chancellor—including Angela Merkel—was elected in their initial voting round. Notably, there have been very close calls, such as when Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl managed to secure just the minimum required votes in their elections.
The identities of those who voted against Merz remain uncertain, largely due to the confidentiality of the ballot. Members opposed to him would likely avoid revealing their stance, deeming it in their best interest to keep their votes secret. Speculation surrounds potential reasons for this dissent: dissatisfaction among SPD members regarding Merz's earlier acceptance of votes from the AfD and disappointment among CDU/CSU members about perceived concessions during coalition negotiations could be factors. Additionally, there may be resentment over Merz's shifting stance on fiscal policy and hesitancy among party members who did not receive ministerial positions.
With the political landscape in flux, the upcoming rounds will be crucial in answering whether Merz can rally the necessary support and reshape his coalition’s future, or whether the current interim leadership will continue to hold sway over German politics.
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