Friedrich Merz fails in the initial voting to become the chancellor of Germany

Keep –Logs informed with free updates

Simply register —vos at German politics Myft Digest: Delivered directly to the inbox.

Friedrich Merz has failed to win the vote in Bundestag to become the chancellor of Germany, in a shock setback that torpedo his plans for his first week in office.

The 69 -year -old Christian Democrat, which Won election in February And he has joined with the Social Democrats to form a majority government, he had to be sworn on Tuesday in office after what was expected to be a formality.

Merz needed 316 votes in the parliament of 630. But he only got 310, although coalition members have 328 seats.

“This is a shock,” said Henning Meyer, a professor at the University of Tübingen. “It has never happened before at the federal level. It is clear that there are dissatisfied people.”

In Tuesday’s vote, 307 members of Bundestag opposed Merz, indicating that five members of their potential coalition had changed sides, as the opposition has 302 votes. Three members abstained, while new were absent and a vote was invalid.

It was not immediately clear when the next voting round would occur, in which Merz still requires an absolute majority of 316.

You could still be elected Chancellor in subsequent rounds if you earn more “yes” than “no”, but at a cost for its authority.

If a candidate fails to gain sufficient support from Parliament, Germany Democratic President Frank-Walter Steinmeier may designate another chancellor candidate or call new elections. Until then Olaf Scholz is still in acting chancellor.

Uwe Jun, a political scientist at Trier’s University, described the Tuesday vote as “a huge surprise”, adding that “Merz clearly has opponents of coalition.”

Its unprecedented failure to be elected by the Bundestag caused a strong blow to the CDU leader, who was immediately planned to work to face the deep problems in the largest economy in Europe, which has suffered years of stagnation.

Merz had to travel to Paris on Wednesday to meet President Emmanuel Macron in what was intended to be a demonstration of his commitment to Franco-Germany collaboration.

“All of Europe looked today in Berlin in the hope that Germany would reaffirm itself as an anchor for stability and a pro -European power station,” said Jana Puglierin, a member of the Higher Policy of the European Foreign Relations Council. “This hope has been slaughtered. With consequences beyond our borders.”

European stocks weakened after the news, reaching minimum session, with the Dax Index of Germany 1.7 percent, and the wider index of Stoxx 600 dropped by 0.8 percent.

Holger Schmieding, a chief economist in Berenberg Bank, said that Tuesday’s annoyance was “a significant negative” for the German economy.

Although he said that Merz was still likely to be elected, he added: “This shows that the coalition is not united, which could weaken its ability to pursue policies.”

Merz has angry some within the most conservative wing of his CDU/CSU grouping, loosening the constitutional lending limit and began in a expense program fueled by debts of € 1 to modernize the military and the aged infrastructure of the country.

Lars Klingbeil, the Social Democratic co-leader who had to take office as Vice-Rector and Minister of Finance, has also faced internal criticism after his party suffered his worst election defeat with only 16 percent of the votes in February.

Ian Smith’s additional reports in London