Germany's Merz fails to be elected chancellor in shock first-round vote

Designated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union during a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag, to elect the new German chancellor, in Berlin, Germany May 6, 2025. (Photo:REUTERS)

Merz, 69, who led his CDU/CSU conservatives to a federal election victory in February and signed a coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), won just 310 votes in the secret ballot in the lower house, the Bundestag, six short of an absolute majority. It meant at least 18 coalition MPs had failed to back him.

While not a fatal setback, Merz's failure to win parliamentary backing at the first time of asking is a first for post-war Germany.

Nine lawmakers abstained while 307 voted against Merz, said Bundestag President Julia Kloeckner. Kloeckner adjourned the parliamentary session to allow the parties to decide how to proceed. There was unlikely to be another vote on Tuesday.

The Bundestag now has 14 days to elect Merz or another chancellor.