A pivotal moment in German politics has occurred as the country’s major parties were unable to elect a chancellor.
A proposed coalition of liberal and conservative parties in Germany has failed to elect a chancellor in the initial parliamentary vote.
Frederich Merz, the Christian Democratic nominee supported by the SPD, received 310 votes on Tuesday, which was six shy of the 316 needed for a majority. The session was then suspended to allow political groups to discuss their next actions.
German media reports indicate that this is the first time since WWII that a candidate for chancellor has failed to be elected in this manner.
Merz’s potential coalition, which includes his CSU/CDU bloc and the SPD, commands 328 seats in the Bundestag.
If Merz doesn’t win in a second vote, there will be two weeks to choose a chancellor before a simple majority vote is held, after which the German president must either appoint the winner or dissolve the legislature.
The previous German coalition government, led by the SPD, collapsed last November due to disagreements over spending. The proposed new coalition has stated its intention to continue essential parts of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s agenda, such as backing Ukraine and loosening constitutional debt restrictions for military spending.
Last week, the BfV, Germany’s internal intelligence agency, labeled the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as “extremist.” The right-wing, anti-immigration party’s polling numbers are currently equal to those of the Christian Democrats regarding voter preference in a potential federal election. AfD leaders have asserted that the “extremist” designation is politically motivated and intended to undermine the party’s increasing popularity.