Germany’s far-right AfD calls for fresh elections after Merz fails to be elected chancellor in first vote – Europe live | Germany
Far-right Alternative für Deutschland calls for fresh elections
And, as predicted (10:39), AfD’s Alice Weidel is very much enjoying the Merz fiasco, and she has just called for a snap election.
“Merz should step aside and the way should be cleared for a general election,” she told reporters, calling the result a “good day for Germany.”
The co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla address journalists. Photograph: Ralf Hirschberger/AFP/Getty Images
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co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel smiles in reaction to the result of the first round of vote at a session at the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) where the parliament is to elect the Germany’s next Chancellor in Berlin,","caption":"The co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel smiles in reaction to the result of the first round of vote at a session at the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) where the parliament is to elect the Germany’s next Chancellor in Berlin,","credit":"Photograph: Ralf Hirschberger/AFP/Getty Images"}}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1746520310000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"10.31 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1746521041000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"10.44 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1746520780000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"10.39 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"10.39","title":"Will they push for another vote today? - snap analysis","contributors":[{"name":"Jakub Krupa","imageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2025/01/22/Jakub_Krupa.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=41cc9981ec7b067e2d3b5391c5a68a4f","largeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2025/01/22/Jakub_Krupa.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4a039a2b765744058f3c2c677268513e"}],"primaryDateLine":"Tue 6 May 2025 11.28 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Tue 6 May 2025 08.58 CEST"},{"id":"6819c6718f088a65239d2a28","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>Here’s a procedural explanation on what’s next, via <a href=\"https://www.bundeskanzler.de/bk-en/chancellery/the-election-of-the-federal-chancellor\">the Bundestag’s website</a>:</p>","elementId":"2d6f73bb-8ba7-4bcf-9973-dbdaebba4a9f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement","html":"<blockquote>\n <p><em>To be elected, the candidate must secure the votes of an absolute majority of the Members of the Bundestag, that is half of the Members plus at least one additional vote. This is sometimes called the “chancellor majority”.</em></p>\n <p><em>If the candidate fails to secure an absolute majority in the <strong>first round</strong> of voting, <strong>a second round is held. The Bundestag then has 14 days to elect another candidate to be Chancellor.</strong> There is no limit to the number of possible ballots, although an absolute majority is always required (Article 63.3 of the Basic Law).</em></p>\n <p><em>If this second round of voting also fails to produce a result, the election process enters a <strong>third phase</strong> in which a new election must take place immediately. The person who receives the largest number of votes (relative majority) is then elected to be Chancellor.</em></p>\n <p><em>Where the Chancellor-elect secures an absolute majority, that is the votes of the majority of the Members of the Bundestag, the Federal President must appoint the Chancellor within seven days of the election. If the Chancellor-elect receives only a relative majority, i.e. the most votes, the Federal President must either appoint the Chancellor within seven days or must dissolve the Bundestag (Article 63.4 of the Basic Law).</em></p>\n</blockquote>","elementId":"5cbaff86-2247-41cc-bf46-445b4a5751d2"},{"displayCredit":true,"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement","role":"inline","media":{"allImages":[{"index":0,"fields":{"height":"3933","width":"5899"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/5899.jpg"},{"index":1,"fields":{"isMaster":"true","height":"3933","width":"5899"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg"},{"index":2,"fields":{"height":"1333","width":"2000"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/2000.jpg"},{"index":3,"fields":{"height":"667","width":"1000"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/1000.jpg"},{"index":4,"fields":{"height":"333","width":"500"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/500.jpg"},{"index":5,"fields":{"height":"93","width":"140"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/140.jpg"}]},"elementId":"3caa508c-b71c-404e-a0f1-c83e2445b3e0","imageSources":[{"weighting":"inline","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2b9aacb5aa6882a87ed2b4fcfe68df03","width":620},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=cfa4e5c13f1b4b92ebb6c3d932e81b46","width":1240},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3d4dff23333edae2d96b46ebb6266f15","width":605},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=12637f7edfd7b6c34879304715628553","width":1210},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4f52df59a1230407f00daefb7579a25d","width":445},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3fe3c1a07e8b4ce17ec715a8926ea42a","width":890}]},{"weighting":"thumbnail","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=67f7370e808a42bea714dcfc9ce81871","width":140},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8863d36259b3dabb4a1231d3879aad94","width":280},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fa21afc1f9de4a517ea60a9dd726dbb2","width":120},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c20c27c16e4b8b8dc1d77fdb066f2488","width":240}]},{"weighting":"supporting","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=caf895eeec98b4f9f9d1caa0485dc553","width":380},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=251c4095d6c1215575109574f3031888","width":760},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2ba0b00206984e0ec58124fa1f0d2996","width":300},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2b4320c2b234ed2bbfecc9394beb2a42","width":600},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2b9aacb5aa6882a87ed2b4fcfe68df03","width":620},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=cfa4e5c13f1b4b92ebb6c3d932e81b46","width":1240},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5af22fdb6422c13b816f427fbf456f254f9debcc/0_0_5899_3933/master/5899.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3d4dff23333edae2d96b46ebb62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Merz reacts after he was not elected new Chancellor in the first voting process at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin.","caption":"Friedrich Merz reacts after he was not elected new Chancellor in the first voting process at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin.","credit":"Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP"}}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1746519665000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"10.21 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1746519800000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"10.23 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1746519801000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"10.23 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"10.23","title":"What's next? - procedural explainer","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Tue 6 May 2025 11.28 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Tue 6 May 2025 08.58 CEST"},{"id":"6819c51f8f08171b1691e406","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>The result will be hugely embarrassing setback for <strong>Merz</strong>.</p>","elementId":"8df529ea-c536-477d-8d33-cffbd85f31f3"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>His CDU/CSU/SPD coalition nominally has 328 votes in the Bundestag – <strong>but he got only 310</strong>; 18 less than you would expect him to get, and, crucially, six short of the majority required to confirm him as the next chancellor. The joys of secret ballot.</p>","elementId":"83e4adb6-c0b1-4382-8e8a-e7371f10abdc"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>As German media note, <strong>this has never happened before in the history of the federal 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Merz reacts after he was not elected new Chancellor in the first voting process at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin.","caption":"Friedrich Merz reacts after he was not elected new Chancellor in the first voting process at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin.","credit":"Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP"}}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1746519327000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"10.15 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1746519558000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"10.19 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1746519510000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"10.18 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"10.18","title":"Embarrassing setback for Merz - snap analysis","contributors":[{"name":"Jakub 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outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz and designated chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) react on the day of a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag, to elect the new German chancellor, in Berlin, Germany.","caption":"Germany’s outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz and designated chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) react on the day of a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag, to elect the new German chancellor, in Berlin, Germany.","credit":"Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters"}},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>He will then come back to the Bundestag to take the oath of office, and later formally confirm his ministerial appointments (both with the president and the parliament).</p>","elementId":"d06d71b4-ea3f-4199-b3de-18c36babfa3a"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>The formal takeover process is expected to be 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German Chancellor Angela Merkel waves at the start of a session at the Bundestag.","caption":"Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel waves at the start of a session at the Bundestag.","credit":"Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images"}}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1746515268000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"09.07 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1746515875000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"09.17 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1746515784000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"09.16 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"09.16","title":"Vote to elect Merz as new German chancellor under way","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Tue 6 May 2025 11.28 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Tue 6 May 2025 08.58 CEST"},{"id":"6819aea68f088a65239d299a","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>Some 70 days after winning the parliamentary election in February, CDU/CSU leader <strong>Friedrich Merz </strong>will 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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of CDU carries documents, ahead of a Bundestag CDU/CSU fraction meeting, where a new chair will be elected, in Berlin, Germany.","caption":"Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of CDU carries documents, ahead of a Bundestag CDU/CSU fraction meeting, where a new chair will be elected, in Berlin, Germany.","credit":"Photograph: Liesa Johannssen/Reuters"}},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>Last night, Scholz was given a formal send-off party – probably best <a href=\"https://x.com/tom_nuttall/status/1919478547015418359\">described</a> by the Economist’s Tom Nuttall as <em>“think military parade crossed with Desert Island Discs and you’re halfway there”</em> – leaving the office to the sounds of <strong>Bach</strong>, <strong>Aretha Franklin’s</strong> “Respect” and <strong>the Beatles’</strong> “In My Life.”</p>","elementId":"fe5bfaf6-8497-40a5-af65-91bec0da0e05"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","prefix":"Related: ","text":"Scholz to hand over power in Germany to sound of feminist anthem Respect","elementId":"200ea5b4-9d5e-49df-a258-a7fc93215f4e","role":"thumbnail","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/05/olaf-scholz-hand-over-power-germany-feminist-anthem-respect"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>There will be time and place to properly sum up his term, acknowledging that whatever plans he may have had got quickly derailed by <strong>Vladimir Putin’s</strong> full-scale invasion of Ukraine, three months into his chancellorship.</p>","elementId":"abdbe83f-ef09-4c94-94a7-2cea9687e43b"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>But today <strong>the focus will be on what’s next</strong> with a number of extremely urgent tasks facing the new chancellor, not just in international politics or the economy, but with the broader crisis of people’s trust that things work as they should.</p>","elementId":"d86de32f-0564-4249-8ac1-ab28c47968e9"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>In his farewell speech, summing up his three years holding the highest office in the country, Scholz said:</p>","elementId":"9c2f9f94-220b-434d-9763-7aea0ce1bc8d"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement","html":"<blockquote>\n <p><em>“Only if you (the German citizen) have confidence in democracy and its representatives can this democracy succeed. Earning this trust has always been the driving force behind my political 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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leaves after his military tattoo ceremony hosted by the Bundeswehr in honour of his service.","caption":"Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leaves after his military tattoo ceremony hosted by the Bundeswehr in honour of his service.","credit":"Photograph: Getty Images"}},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>Merz will need to figure out – and figure out fast – <strong>how to keep that democratic confidence alive</strong> at a time when the far-right <strong>Alternative für Deutschland</strong>, the main opposition party now formally designated as an extremist force, comes top in some of the public opinion polls.</p>","elementId":"432b8ff8-c90c-40bd-a119-3b93157f944f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>The Bundestag will sit from 9am Berlin time (8am London) to formally appoint the new chancellor, and later to confirm the members of his government, with media rumours that the first cabinet meeting will take place this evening, ahead of Merz’s expected trips to Paris and Warsaw tomorrow.</p>","elementId":"cb7412f7-c431-4229-b7c8-a1d7df3e582c"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>We will bring you all the latest.</p>","elementId":"2d35bf39-364c-4c8a-9ea1-8395b6b66b25"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>It’s <strong>Tuesday, 6 May 2025</strong>, it’s <strong>Jakub Krupa</strong> here, and this is <strong>Europe Live.</strong></p>","elementId":"4d0fe827-ca5a-4e2a-972c-60660739ad9b"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>Good morning.</p>","elementId":"1afd4dbd-c1ac-4acc-90f8-60431943df51"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1746514682000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"08.58 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1746514673000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"08.57 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1746514682000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"08.58 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"08.58","title":"Morning opening: Bundeskanzler Merz","contributors":[{"name":"Jakub Krupa","imageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2025/01/22/Jakub_Krupa.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=41cc9981ec7b067e2d3b5391c5a68a4f","largeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2025/01/22/Jakub_Krupa.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4a039a2b765744058f3c2c677268513e"}],"primaryDateLine":"Tue 6 May 2025 11.28 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Tue 6 May 2025 08.58 CEST"}],"filterKeyEvents":false,"id":"key-events-carousel-mobile","absoluteServerTimes":false,"renderingTarget":"Web"}">
Key events
Jakub Krupa
What further complicates the situation is that holding another vote today (increasingly unlikely, but not fully ruled out yet) or tomorrow (actively considered) would probably require a separate procedural vote to be passed with a higher majority requires – and thus needing some support from the opposition parties.
Senior representatives of the CDU/CSU and the SPD are reportedly in talks with other parties about whether it could work. The AfD and the Left are understood to be ready to offer their votes (although one would be forgiven for thinking that they may be very much hoping for even more drama to come out of this as a result.)
For now, the session is adjourned as political consultations on next steps continue.
As Spiegel noted, it’s six months to the day since the Scholz coalition government collapsed, on 6 November last year. What a way to mark the occasion.
Far-right Alternative für Deutschland calls for fresh elections
And, as predicted (10:39), AfD’s Alice Weidel is very much enjoying the Merz fiasco, and she has just called for a snap election.
“Merz should step aside and the way should be cleared for a general election,” she told reporters, calling the result a “good day for Germany.”
The co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla address journalists. Photograph: Ralf Hirschberger/AFP/Getty Images
Deborah Cole
Germany’s presumed next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, suffered a humiliating setback on his path to power when he failed to secure the necessary 316 votes in the Bundestag lower house of parliament to be elected.
Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) reacts after failing to be elected as the chancellor, on the day of a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag, to elect the new German chancellor. Photograph: Lisi Niesner/Reuters
It is the first time in Germany’s postwar history that a candidate has lost the first round of voting in a country that prides itself on political stability.
Unconfirmed media reports said a second round would be held on Friday.
Commentators called the shock outcome, in which Merz garnered 310 votes, a “complete catastrophe” and “a punch to the stomach” for the 69-year-old chancellor-designate, who leads the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc which won February’s snap election with a disappointing 28.6% of the vote.
A stony-faced Merz retreated with his parliamentary group to consult on the path ahead.
It was not immediately clear from the secret ballot who had withheld their expected support, either rebels among his own conservatives or from the junior coalition partners, the Social Democrats. Three abstentions were received as well as an invalid ballot.
A failure to win in the second round would plunge Europe’s top economy into political turmoil, touching off an open-ended leadership battle or potentially new elections in which the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party would be expected to do well -- or even win outright.
The developments throw a finely calibrated schedule for the week into disarray.
Merz was to be sworn in Tuesday and travel to both Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday, signalling a return to German leadership within the EU after six months of political limbo since Olaf Scholz’s government collapsed in acrimony.
He was to preside over ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war in Europe on Thursday before heading to Brussels on Friday to meet EU and Nato leaders.
No second round today - media reports
For what it’s worth, multiple German media are now suggesting that there won’t be another round of voting today – exactly because Merz and his team worry about the risk of another hugely embarrassing defeat.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Bild and Stern’s Julias Betschka all say the second vote is unlikely to take place today. Let’s wait for the official confirmation, though.
Political groups are locked in crisis meetings as we speak.
I will bring you the latest when we have it.
Will they push for another vote today? - snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
The problem with the vote being a secret ballot is that Merz and his whips won’t even know who they need to talk to if they want to get his candidacy over the line.
Given the well-choreographed timeline for the next few days – with Merz expected in Paris and Warsaw tomorrow, VE Day celebrations on Thursday, and Brussels on Friday, according to German media – he and his entourage can be temped to push for the second vote later today.
But if they have another go today, they will want to make sure he will win it. Another defeat would be devastating for his position and credibility. If that’s not certain, it may be better to hold it off – but even that will undeniably cause further embarrassment.
Here’s a chart reminding you of the composition of the new Bundestag, but we will never know which of the 328 MPs representing the new coalition rebelled against their chancellor designate.
And if you’re wondering who is happy with this turn of events, here’s the reaction of Alternative für Deutschland’s leader Alice Weidel.
In a social media post, she said the result of the vote “demonstrates the weak foundation” on which the coalition is built.
Her party has been benefiting from the frustratingly long government formation process – topping some of the polls - and will surely seek to capitalise on today’s events even further.
The co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel smiles in reaction to the result of the first round of vote at a session at the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) where the parliament is to elect the Germany’s next Chancellor in Berlin, Photograph: Ralf Hirschberger/AFP/Getty Images
What's next? - procedural explainer
Here’s a procedural explanation on what’s next, via the Bundestag’s website:
To be elected, the candidate must secure the votes of an absolute majority of the Members of the Bundestag, that is half of the Members plus at least one additional vote. This is sometimes called the “chancellor majority”.
If the candidate fails to secure an absolute majority in the first round of voting, a second round is held. The Bundestag then has 14 days to elect another candidate to be Chancellor. There is no limit to the number of possible ballots, although an absolute majority is always required (Article 63.3 of the Basic Law).
If this second round of voting also fails to produce a result, the election process enters a third phase in which a new election must take place immediately. The person who receives the largest number of votes (relative majority) is then elected to be Chancellor.
Where the Chancellor-elect secures an absolute majority, that is the votes of the majority of the Members of the Bundestag, the Federal President must appoint the Chancellor within seven days of the election. If the Chancellor-elect receives only a relative majority, i.e. the most votes, the Federal President must either appoint the Chancellor within seven days or must dissolve the Bundestag (Article 63.4 of the Basic Law).
Friedrich Merz reacts after he was not elected new Chancellor in the first voting process at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin. Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP
Embarrassing setback for Merz - snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
The result will be hugely embarrassing setback for Merz.
His CDU/CSU/SPD coalition nominally has 328 votes in the Bundestag – but he got only 310; 18 less than you would expect him to get, and, crucially, six short of the majority required to confirm him as the next chancellor. The joys of secret ballot.
As German media note, this has never happened before in the history of the federal republic.
Friedrich Merz reacts after he was not elected new Chancellor in the first voting process at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin. Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP
Merz fails to secure majority to get elected chancellor
Friedrich Merz has failed to get enough votes to become chancellor in the first vote.
310 votes in favour. He needed 316.
Wow.
The session gets adjourned so political groups can consult on next steps.
Bundestag votes on Merz – in pictures
A delegate casts his ballot as MPs vote to elect Germany’s next Chancellor during a session at the Bundestag. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty ImagesSecretary general of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) Matthias Miersch casts his vote during a session at the Bundestag. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty ImagesDesignated German Finance Minister and vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil casts his ballot as MPs vote to elect Germany’s next Chancellor during a session at the Bundestag. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
Vote count under way
If you’re wondering why, oh, why is it all taking so much time, it’s because it’s a secret ballot, with all parliamentarians going out of the main chamber to the lobby to physically cast their vote.
The meeting has just been adjourned for 20-25 minutes as they count the votes.
No prizes for guessing how Merz voted.
Friedrich Merz casts his vote during the election of a new Chancellor at the parliament Bundestag in Berlin. Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP
What to expect in coming hours
If, as we expect, Merz gets elected in the first round of voting, the Bundestag session will be adjourned, and he will travel to see the country’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier to get a certificate of his appointment.
Germany’s outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz and designated chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) react on the day of a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag, to elect the new German chancellor, in Berlin, Germany. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
He will then come back to the Bundestag to take the oath of office, and later formally confirm his ministerial appointments (both with the president and the parliament).
The formal takeover process is expected to be completed at 3pm.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
The voting continues.
Vote to elect Merz as new German chancellor under way
And after some formal words of welcome, the vote on Friedrich Merz’s chancellorship is now under way.
316 votes are required, and it should be a formality given the CDU/CSU/SPD coalition has 328 MPs.
Election of a new German Chancellor, in Berlin. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel is there too.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel waves at the start of a session at the Bundestag. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
Morning opening: Bundeskanzler Merz
Jakub Krupa
Some 70 days after winning the parliamentary election in February, CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz will finally become the new German chancellor today, taking over from embattled Olaf Scholz.
Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of CDU carries documents, ahead of a Bundestag CDU/CSU fraction meeting, where a new chair will be elected, in Berlin, Germany. Photograph: Liesa Johannssen/Reuters
Last night, Scholz was given a formal send-off party – probably best described by the Economist’s Tom Nuttall as “think military parade crossed with Desert Island Discs and you’re halfway there” – leaving the office to the sounds of Bach, Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and the Beatles’ “In My Life.”
There will be time and place to properly sum up his term, acknowledging that whatever plans he may have had got quickly derailed by Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, three months into his chancellorship.
But today the focus will be on what’s next with a number of extremely urgent tasks facing the new chancellor, not just in international politics or the economy, but with the broader crisis of people’s trust that things work as they should.
In his farewell speech, summing up his three years holding the highest office in the country, Scholz said:
“Only if you (the German citizen) have confidence in democracy and its representatives can this democracy succeed. Earning this trust has always been the driving force behind my political commitment.”
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leaves after his military tattoo ceremony hosted by the Bundeswehr in honour of his service. Photograph: Getty Images
Merz will need to figure out – and figure out fast – how to keep that democratic confidence alive at a time when the far-right Alternative für Deutschland, the main opposition party now formally designated as an extremist force, comes top in some of the public opinion polls.
The Bundestag will sit from 9am Berlin time (8am London) to formally appoint the new chancellor, and later to confirm the members of his government, with media rumours that the first cabinet meeting will take place this evening, ahead of Merz’s expected trips to Paris and Warsaw tomorrow.
We will bring you all the latest.
It’s Tuesday, 6 May 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
