Germany Elects Friedrich Merz As New Chancellor After Surviving Historic Defeat
Germany Elects Friedrich Merz As New Chancellor After Surviving Historic Defeat
The vote was marked by intense negotiations and closed-door meetings between the two rounds.
Friedrich Merz has been elected as the new Chancellor of Germany following a dramatic second vote in the Bundestag on Tuesday.
The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) secured 325 votes, surpassing the required 316-vote threshold, after initially falling short in the first round, according to RT.
The vote was marked by intense negotiations and closed-door meetings between the two rounds.
CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn urged lawmakers to take responsibility, saying, “All of Europe, perhaps even the entire world, is watching this second round of voting. I appeal to everyone to be aware of this special responsibility.”
Merz faced opposition from 289 MPs, many from the Left and Green parties. Bernd Baumann of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party faction described Merz’s initial failure as a “historic defeat,” while Green Party politician Renate Kuenast spoke of a “massive loss of authority” for the incoming chancellor.
The new CDU-SPD coalition has pledged to continue key elements of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s agenda, including support for Ukraine and increasing the military budget.
Germany’s previous three-way ruling coalition led by the SPD fell apart last November amid internal disputes on spending.
In a historic first, the Bundestag required a second vote to elect a chancellor, highlighting the complexities of Germany’s coalition politics.
Despite the challenges, Merz’s election marks a new chapter in German politics, with the country looking to stabilise its government and address pressing issues.
