Germany’s main political parties have failed to elect an agreed candidate as chancellor in a historic moment for the EU nation’s politics
A proposed coalition of Germany’s liberal and conservative parties has failed to elect a chancellor in a German parliament first round vote.
Frederich Merz, the Christian Democratic candidate who was also backed by the liberal SPD, garnered 310 votes on Tuesday, falling six short of the 316 needed for an absolute majority. The session was adjourned for consultations among political groups regarding their next steps.
According to German media, the vote failure marks the first time in Germany’s post-war history that a chancellor candidate has been thwarted in such a manner.
Merz’s proposed coalition, comprising his CSU/CDU bloc and the German Social Democrats (SPD), holds 328 seats in the Bundestag.
BREAKING: Merz Fails Chancellor Vote, Berlin in Chaos🚨🇩🇪
— Global Dissident (@GlobalDiss) May 6, 2025
First post-WWII flop of its kind. Some allies turned on him. Another vote in 14 days or new elections. Political crisis looms. AfD watching closely. pic.twitter.com/KNV9fa1xVq
