GERMANY’S new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has finally been confirmed by the country’s parliament just hours after losing a first humiliating vote.
After a fraught day for the new Chancellor in Berlin, he was voted in as Germany’s new head of government with 325 votes.
RexNew German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaking in the German Bundestag[/caption]
AFPDesignated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is congratulated by delegates of the Greens after he was elected in a second round of voting[/caption]
GettyGerman Chancellor designate Friedrich Merz of the German Christian Democrats (CDU) emerges after casting his ballot in a second vote[/caption]
Earlier today, he lost an initial confirmation vote, falling short of the 316 votes needed.
Merz fell short of this target by just six votes, throwing his day into chaos after what was expected to be a largely procedural ballot.
He will now preside over a coalition of his own centre-right CDU/CSU and the centre-left SPD – the part of of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The stunning initial setback was the first time in Germany’s postwar history that an incoming Chancellor lost such a vote.
The two coalition partners jointly have a slim majority in Germany’s parliament, suggesting there is already some disquiet in the alliance.
Merz’s appointment follows the country’s election in February, which saw his party return to first place after being ejected from power four years earlier.
However, the election also saw the far-right AfD get their best result to date, beating the long-established SPD to second place.
The AfD took glee in the chaos of Merz’s initial defeat this morning.
Co-leader Alice Weidel said this morning: “Merz should step aside and the way should be cleared for a general election.”
Analyst Holger Schmieding of Berenberg Bank wrote that Merz’s initial vote loss today was a “bad start” that “shows that he cannot fully rely on his two coalition parties”.
At the top of the new Chancellor’s agenda will be boosting Germany’s flagging economy and bolstering its role at the heart of Europe amid the uncertainty of Donald Trump’s US presidency.
Trump’s administration has piled increasing pressure on Europe through tariffs and demands to spend more on defence.
Ahead of the second vote CDU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn said: “The whole of Europe, perhaps even the whole world, is watching this second round of voting.”
He urged lawmakers to “be aware of this special responsibility.”
Merz succeeds Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had held the office since 2021.
Scholz had run for re-election in February, but led his party to its worst result in postwar history.
He had led a three party coalition with the Greens and the free market FDP – with all members of this alliance losing support in February.
The new Chancellor has an extensive background in business, and is seen as a rival to former Chancellor Angela Merkel – both of whom are from the same CDU party.
The 69-year-old will be tasked with steadying the ship of Europe’s largest economy at a time of intense geopolitical uncertainty.
On Monday, Merz said: “We live in times of profound change, of profound upheaval… and of great uncertainty.
“And that is why we know that it is our historic obligation to lead this coalition to success.”
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