Friedrich Merz Elected German Chancellor After Chaotic Second Vote

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz was elected Germany’s chancellor on Tuesday in a second parliamentary vote after an unprecedented initial defeat, marking a turbulent start to his tenure.

Merz, 69, secured 325 votes in the Bundestag, clearing the required majority of 316. The victory came hours after he fell six votes short in the first ballot—a stunning setback in post-war German politics. No chancellor candidate had ever lost such a vote since the country’s democracy was restored in 1949.

The secret ballot left it unclear whether dissent came from members of Merz’s own Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), or their coalition partners, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD). The three-party alliance holds 328 seats, but 18 lawmakers broke ranks in the first round.

Bundestag President Julia Klöckner initially planned a follow-up vote for Wednesday, but CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann urged swift action. "Europe needs a strong Germany—that’s why we can’t wait for days," he told German television.

Coalition Tensions and Global Scrutiny

The drama underscored fragile trust within the coalition, formed just a day earlier after months of political deadlock. SPD officials denied orchestrating Merz’s initial defeat, with senior MP Ralf Stegner telling the BBC, "I don’t have the slightest impression our group shirked its responsibility."

Far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which placed second in February’s election, seized on the turmoil, with co-leader Alice Weidel calling the coalition "weak" and demanding new elections.

Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who attended a ceremonial military sendoff on Monday, handed power to Merz after the second vote. The new chancellor, a longtime rival of former leader Angela Merkel, now faces immediate challenges: reviving Germany’s sluggish economy, navigating U.S. trade tensions, and uniting a fractured parliament.

"It’s our historical duty to make this government a success," Merz declared after signing the coalition deal. Yet Tuesday’s chaos—averted but not forgotten—hinted at the hurdles ahead.