Friedrich Merz wins 325 votes in the second round of votes hours after a shocking defeat in his first vote.
Conservative leader Friedrich Merz was elected German Chancellor in the second round of parliamentary votes after a shocking defeat in the first attempt by a new alliance with the Center-Left Social Democrats (SPD).
It was the first time for post-war Germany that Meltz had not won Parliamentary support in the first round of the vote.
Meltz won 325 votes in the second round on Tuesday.
He needed 316 out of 630 votes in the secret vote, but he was pretty short of the 328 seats his coalition holds, and only 310 in the first round.
After the vote, the 69-year-old headed to nearby Bellevue Palace, where he was officially appointed by President Frank Waltersteinmeyer. Merz then returns to the historic Capitol in the heart of Berlin and takes the vows of office to become Germany’s 10th Prime Minister since the end of World War II.
The Meltz-led conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) took the lead in national elections with 28.5% of the votes in February, but needed at least one coalition partner to form a majority government.
On Monday, CDU/CSU reached an agreement with the Social Democrats (SPD). This secured 16.4% in elections after the collapse of the Olaf Scholz government last year.
Their contracts map plans to revive growth, including reducing corporate taxes and lowering energy prices. It also pledges strong support for Ukraine to fight back against Russian invasions and to fight back against rising military spending.
The new Prime Minister Trey also includes domestic issues such as US President Donald Trump’s conflicting trade policy and the rise of German far-right and anti-immigrant alternatives (AFDs).
Union: “No unity”
Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane said the report from Berlin suggested that Meltz had not won the first round of the vote.
“he [Merz] We start from this new position, knowing that members of his own coalition voted against him,” he said.
Experts say that Mertz’s failure to win support for his prime ministerial position in his first attempt is embarrassing for the man who has pledged to restore Germany’s leadership on the world stage.
“Europe was hoping that all of Europe would look to Berlin today and reaffirm Germany as a stability and a pro-European power anchor,” said Jana Pagreen, head of the Council of Europe’s Berlin office of diplomatic relations. “That hope has been shattered. The outcome is beyond our borders.”
Insiders within the party said Monday that Merz would quickly secure a majority despite complaining with both coalition parties about the nomination of the cabinet, policy compromises and a huge borrowing package that pushed the old parliament off the last day.
“This indicates that the coalition is not united and could undermine its ability to pursue policy,” said Holger Schmeading, chief economist at Belenburg Bank in London.
Mertz’s abrasive style, which he had never held a government position, was also unable to convince him that he was prime minister.
“The relationship between the parties has been severely damaged due to this; [it will] “They’re the ones who are politically scientist at Hanover University,” said Philip Caker.
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