After a first frustrated vote in the Bundestag, in which he failed to reach the absolute majority, the leader of the Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, was elected on Tuesday as Germany’s new chancellor. Merz obtained 325 votes favorable, surpassing the 316 necessary to ensure the leadership of the federal executive.
In the first attempt, held the day before, Merz received 310 votes – six less than the minimum required – which represented one, especially two and a half months after the CDU victory in federal elections. The failure has exposed weaknesses at the base of support and generated speculation about internal divisions and resistance between allies.
However, the scenario changed in the second vote, when Merz managed to consolidate supports and became the scoring: there were 325 votes in favor and 289 against, in a Bundestag composed of 630 parliamentarians. The victory ends the parliamentary impasse and paves the way for the official formation of the new German government.
Merz’s election ends the interim chancellor era and represents the return of the CDU to Germany’s command, after the years of coalition led by the SPD of Olaf Scholz. The new chancellor will face challenges such as Germany’s international repositioning, European energy crisis and economic tension caused by war in Ukraine and global slowdown.
