Merz appointed German chancellor, hours after unprecedented parliamentary defeat
Last edited Tue May 6, 2025, 11:03 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: CNN World
Updated 10:57 AM EDT, Tue May 6, 2025
CNN — Germany’s Friedrich Merz has formally become chancellor at the second attempt, hours after an unprecedented defeat signaled deep discontent within his coalition. In a hastily organized session on Tuesday afternoon, 325 lawmakers voted to approve his appointment — more than the 316 he required. His appointment was approved by the president shortly later, and he is set to be sworn in at the Bundestag.
Merz, who won an election in February and unveiled a ruling coalition last month, had fallen six votes short earlier in the day, a stunning setback that marked another twist in a tortuous period of uncertainty for the country.
He is now set to formally become chancellor after being approved by the German President. But his tenure will start on unstable footing: Tuesday’s votes revealed reluctance inside his coalition, and gave the insurgent far-right AfD party a new opportunity to ruffle the political establishment.
Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party won an election in February, but failed to pick up enough seats to govern outright – an outcome that is commonplace in Germany’s diverse political environment. He last month announced he would form a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), a rare fusing of Germany’s two establishment groups that ensured the AfD – which came second in the February poll – would remain locked out of power. It extended the so-called “firewall,” a blockade against far-right groups that German politicians have kept in place since after World War II, but which has become increasingly tenuous.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/europe/merz-chancellor-german-parliament-intl
Article updated.
Original article/headline -
Updated 10:25 AM EDT, Tue May 6, 2025
CNN — Germany’s Friedrich Merz has won a parliamentary vote to become chancellor at the second attempt, hours after an unprecedented defeat signaled deep discontent within his coalition. In a hastily organized session on Tuesday afternoon, 325 lawmakers voted to approve his ascension — more than the 316 he required.
Merz, who won an election in February and unveiled a ruling coalition last month, had fallen six votes short earlier in the day, a stunning setback that marked another twist in a tortuous period of uncertainty for the country.
He is now set to formally become chancellor after being approved by the German President. But his tenure will start on unstable footing: Tuesday’s votes revealed reluctance inside his coalition, and gave the insurgent far-right AfD party a new opportunity to ruffle the political establishment.
Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party won an election in February, but failed to pick up enough seats to govern outright – an outcome that is commonplace in Germany’s diverse political environment. He last month announced he would form a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), a rare fusing of Germany’s two establishment groups that ensured the AfD – which came second in the February poll – would remain locked out of power. It extended the so-called “firewall,” a blockade against far-right groups that German politicians have kept in place since after World War II, but which has become increasingly tenuous.