Merz fails in the first ballot: How is it going now?

Merz fails in the first ballot: How is it going now?

Berlin, Deutschland - on May 6, 2025 documented SWR that Friedrich Merz (CDU) failed in the first ballot for the Federal Chancellery. He only received 310 yes votes, while he would have needed at least 316 votes for the required majority. This number of votes is particularly noteworthy because the coalition of the Union and the SPD has a total of 328 seats in the Bundestag. Due to the secret coordination, it is not clear which parties have voted against Merz.

The course of the session in the Bundestag, which started on Tuesday at 9 a.m., was interrupted shortly after 10 a.m. after the result was released. Castle Tagesspiegel : For the first time, a designated chancellor failed after a federal election and the successful coalition negotiations.

how is it going?

According to the Basic Law, more precisely paragraph 63 paragraph 3, a new Chancellor's election must take place within 14 days. Any number of electoral courses can be carried out during this period. If no candidate reaches the majority, another choice would be necessary in which a simple majority would be enough. In this case, even a minority government could be formed. The Federal President has the last word and decides whether he accepts such a minority government or scheduled new elections.

The next ballot can take place on Wednesday at the earliest. No new ballot is scheduled on Tuesday. The Bundestag has the option of holding up to five ballots within the 14-day period. The Tagesspiegel indicates that only a relative majority is required in the third ballot, whereby the candidate is chosen with the most votes.

appointment and further steps

The plan stipulated that after his election at 10:30 a.m. in Bellevue Castle, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was to be appointed, followed by his decision in the Bundestag at 12:00 p.m. Afterwards, the ministers were to take place at 12:30 p.m., and the first cabinet members should also have made their notice at 1:30 p.m. This precise planning is now thwarted by the failed election.

Merz had already planned inaugural visits to France and Poland for Wednesday. His trip to Brussels was planned for Friday to meet EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte. These trips may now have to be reconsidered because the question of chancellorship is still unclear.