Friedrich Merz Becomes Germany's Chancellor amid a Tumultuous Election

Friedrich Merz Becomes Germany's Chancellor amid a Tumultuous Election
Grzegorz
Grzegorzabout 1 month ago

Friedrich Merz was elected as Germany’s new chancellor on Tuesday, just hours after experiencing an unprecedented setback.

As the head of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Merz had been the frontrunner for the position, poised to become Germany’s 10th post-war chancellor.

In a rare situation, no candidate for chancellor in Germany had historically missed majority approval on the initial vote. Merz, who is 69, fell short by six votes, garnering only 310 of the 316 votes needed for a majority in the Bundestag.

Following the announcement of this result, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner urged her fellow members to swiftly reach a resolution. “The entire European continent, and indeed the world, is observing this election,” said Spahn, highlighting the special responsibility involved for all parties.

With the votes cast by secret ballot, determining who may have deviated from supporting Merz is impossible.

On the second vote, he achieved 325 votes.

Germany has been without a majority government since Olaf Scholz’s SPD-led coalition fell apart last November.

Merz clinched victory in the federal elections last February, earning the CDU/CSU conservatives 28.5% of the public’s favor. His campaign revolved around rejuvenating the German economy, restricting immigration, and elevating the country’s international stature amidst rising far-right movements, lingering global political instability, and a strained NATO alliance.

The coalition government aims to stimulate economic growth amid a global trade conflict initiated by President Donald Trump’s broad tariffs and mounting demands on Europe to enhance its defense expenditures.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, poised to become the largest opposition force in the parliament, capitalized on Merz’s initial voting shortfall.

“Merz is compromised, regardless of future developments,” stated Bernd Baumann, a leading figure in the party’s parliamentary group, as reported by Reuters.

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