Friedrich Merz Falls Short in First Parliamentary Vote for German Chancellor

Friedrich Merz didn’t receive a majority of votes in a secret ballot

Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative bloc in Germany, has failed in his initial attempt to become the country’s next chancellor, falling short by six votes during the first round of balloting in the Bundestag. Despite being widely expected to secure a straightforward victory, Merz received only 310 of the 316 votes required for a majority in the 630-member lower house of parliament.

The secret ballot, held on Tuesday, concluded with no winner, prompting the coalition of parties backing Merz to return to negotiations in an effort to secure the necessary support. According to the German constitution, the Bundestag has 14 days to elect a chancellor by absolute majority. If no candidate secures the majority within that time, the president of Germany is constitutionally empowered to either appoint the candidate with the most votes or dissolve the Bundestag and trigger new national elections.

Merz is aiming to become Germany’s 10th chancellor since World War II, succeeding Olaf Scholz, whose government collapsed last year. His leadership bid comes at a pivotal time for Germany, which remains the largest economy in Europe and plays a central role in shaping diplomatic and policy decisions across the European Union.

Should Merz eventually take office, he would face immediate and complex challenges. These include managing Germany’s position in the ongoing war in Ukraine, navigating evolving trade tensions with a potential second Trump administration in the United States, and addressing internal issues such as economic stagnation and the growing influence of far-right, anti-immigrant political movements.

The coming days will be critical as political factions deliberate over their support, with the future direction of German and European leadership hanging in the balance.