‘Dit is een enorme blamage’: na de voor Friedrich Merz fout gelopen stemming in de Duitse Bondsdag | De Morgen

Unexpected Setback for Merz

Friedrich Merz, despite having a theoretical majority, failed to secure enough votes in the Bundestag for his election as Chancellor. This unexpected outcome shocked German politics.

Reasons for the Failure

Several factors contributed to Merz's initial defeat:

• Alienating both CDU and SPD members through controversial stances on migration (including seeking support from the AfD) and his handling of the debt brake.
• Internal dissent within his own CDU party regarding his decision to loosen the debt brake.
• Concerns within the SPD about his trustworthiness.

The article suggests this was a wake-up call for Merz, highlighting his overconfidence.

Aftermath and Future

A second vote is scheduled, with the expectation that Merz will succeed. However, this initial failure constitutes a significant embarrassment and a setback for his political career and party.

While a theoretical alternative exists, the article dismisses the likelihood of another candidate emerging due to the political landscape and the SPD's commitment to supporting Merz.