Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU/CSU, failed to win a majority in the Bundestag's first vote for Chancellor of Germany. He received 310 votes, six short of the required majority despite his coalition having 328 seats.
The unexpected result caused a stock market dip and sparked widespread political analysis. Olaf Scholz, the current Chancellor, described it as "absurd." The incident highlighted the fragility of the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition.
Merz will face a second round of voting, where a relative majority will be sufficient. However, this could lead to complications involving opposition parties. Various parties commented: the Greens criticized the start to the new government, while the AfD directly criticized Merz.
Merz won the legislative elections in February and is seen as a potential leader in a Europe facing challenges. Despite his win, he faced irritation from some conservatives for previous actions. The German government plans to increase spending on defence and infrastructure.
At least 18 members of his coalition didn't vote for him, despite agreements made the day before. Merz's confidence was high, with international commitments already scheduled. The German constitution mandates a vote within 14 days.