Friedrich Merz Fails to Secure Chancellor Election
May 6, 2025
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the German conservatives, failed to be elected Chancellor in the first Bundestag vote, receiving 310 votes out of 621 participants. At least 316 votes are needed for an absolute majority. This failure raises doubts about the cohesion of the new government coalition with the Social Democrats. The Bundestag has 14 days to elect a new Chancellor.