Friedrich Merz has been sworn in as Chancellor after narrowly winning a majority of votes in the Bundestag – but only at the second time of asking.
Germany had been thrown into political chaos earlier today as Merz’s bid to become the country’s 10th chancellor shockingly failed in the first round of voting in parliament by just six votes this morning.
The conservative leader had been expected to comfortably win the first vote after agreeing a coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrat Party (SDP) and theoretically securing a slim parliamentary majority yesterday.
But for the first time in the Federal Republic’s history, he failed to secure parliament’s backing at the first attempt, sparking calls for him to resign and the country to hold fresh elections just three months after the last.
He needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes in a secret ballot, but only received 310 in the morning vote, prompting his family to leave the public gallery immediately after the decision.
But this afternoon, after forcing another vote, he took 325 votes, meaning he is finally confirmed as the German chancellor.
Footage after the vote shows subdued celebrations in the Bundestag, with parliamentarians congratulating a clearly relieved Merz.
He then took the short drive to the Bellevue Palace to see President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, where he was formally appointed as chancellor.
Earlier today, he had faced intense pressure from Germany’s main opposition party to stand down and call an election.
AfD figures claimed that even if Merz were to survive, his reputation would be in tatters.
Germany’s Incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz is congratulated as he is elected chancellor by parliament in second round of voting in the German lower house of parliament Bundestag
Newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) receives his certificate of appontment from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) during the appointment of the Federal Chancellor at the Bellevue Palace
Friedrich Merz takes the oath of office in front of Parliament President Julia Kloeckner after being elected
He needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes in a secret ballot, but only received 310 in the morning vote
Before Merz, no chancellor in postwar history had failed to secure parliament’s backing at the first attempt
Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the AfD, who came second in February’s election, was seen smiling in response to the surprising result of the first vote
AfD figures claimed that even if Merz were to survive and he was sworn in, his reputation would be in tatters
Following the second vote, however, she was seen congratulating Merz on the result
Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the AfD, was seen smiling in response to the surprising result of the first, historic vote.
Her far-right party, which came second in February’s election, have sued Germany’s domestic intelligence service after being designated as a ‘right wing extremist’ organisation last week.
Weidel called on Merz to ‘resign immediately’, adding: ‘Merz should step aside and the way should be cleared for a general election.
‘This is of course a historic setback. The man is so damaged and this so-called governing coalition has been a mess from the start.’
Bernd Baumann, the AfD’s parliamentary group leader, said: ‘Merz is damaged, whatever else happens in future.’
After falling short this morning, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner had originally been planning a follow-up vote for tomorrow, but Christian Democrat General Secretary Carsten Linnemann said it was important to press ahead.
‘Europe needs a strong Germany, that’s why we can’t wait for days,’ he said.
Parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn said: ‘All of Europe, perhaps the whole world, is watching this ballot.’
Merz has been under pressure in recent weeks, having scrambled to put together a coalition with the SDP, which now holds a slim majority in the Bundestag.
His party are now neck-and-neck in the polls with the AfD, having held a comfortable lead earlier in the year and winning 58 more seats in the election.
After the vote this afternoon, Weidel said: ‘Merz is the first chancellor candidate to have failed in the first round.
‘It shows you how weak this coalition of conservatives and the SPD is.’
As well as stemming the electoral rise of the AfD, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader was also facing questions over curbing illegal migration and his approach to backing Ukraine against the Russian invasion.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the first world leaders to congratulate Merz, saying: ‘Ukraine is deeply grateful for the support of Germany and its people.
‘We sincerely hope that Germany will grow even stronger and that we’ll see more German leadership in European and transatlantic affairs. Wishing you every success, Mr Chancellor, on the road ahead.’
French President Emmanuel Macron said: ‘Congratulations on your inauguration, dear Chancellor – it is up to us to accelerate our European agenda for sovereignty, security and competitiveness.’
Meanwhile, European Commission president praised Merz as ‘a proven friend and expert on Europe,’ promising to ‘work together for a strong and more competitive Europe.’
Merz looks set to visit Warsaw and Paris this week as his first diplomatic ventures as chancellor.
Despite eventually winning, the initial result represents a significant blow to the Christian Democrat leader, who won the most seats in Germany’s Federal Election in February.
His party signed a coalition deal with the centre-left SPD yesterday, with 328 seats between the two parties indicating that Merz had enough support to win today’s vote.
But it appears 18 MPs who had been expected to back him dissented, leading to a humiliating defeat for the conservative leader. Far less relented from giving Merz their vote this afternoon, leading to his eventual victory.
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Charlotte Merz (2ndR), the wife of designated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and her daughters Carola Cluesener (2ndL) and Constanze Merz (L) watch the session before leaving immediately after the vote results
Charlotte Merz (front), the wife of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is congratulated after the second vote
Merz’s CDU party are now neck-and-neck in the polls with the AfD, having held a comfortable lead earlier in the year and winning 58 more seats in the election
Earlier in the day, AfD had called on Merz to resign following the results of the first vote
The parliamentary vote is a secret ballot, meaning the votes of individual MPs will never be revealed.
The vote, which came on the eve of the 80th anniversary of Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War II, was largely seen as a formality to confirm Merz as Chancellor.
Johann Wadepuhl, the designated next foreign minister, said this morning that he was still confident that Merz would ultimately prevail.
‘It is an annoying process, but in a parliamentary democracy, in a liberal country, this is unfortunately one of the scenarios that you have to be prepared for,’ he told reporters today.
He said the failure to be voted in was an ‘obstacle but not a catastrophe’.
He was already facing questions over the AfD’s status as a legal political entity after it was classified as a ‘right wing extremist’ organisation by the German domestic intelligence service.
Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution described the party as a threat to the country’s democratic order, saying it ‘disregards human dignity’ – in particular by what it called ‘ongoing agitation’ against refugees and migrants.
Mainstream German political parties refuse to work with it, citing the so-called ‘firewall’ they’ve upheld against cooperating with far-right parties since the end of the war.
Johann Wadepuhl, the designated next foreign minister, said he was still confident that Merz would ultimately prevail
The CDU signed a coalition deal with the centre-left SPD yesterday, with 328 seats between the two parties indicating that Merz had enough support to win today’s vote
The parliamentary vote is a secret ballot, meaning the votes of individual lawmakers will never be revealed
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz walks in the plenary hall after the second round of voting
But senior figures in the White House, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, criticised the move and called on them to undo the classification.
Merz has not commented publicly on the intelligence service’s decision.
The AfD, now subject to broader surveillance, was shaping up to be a political thorn in Merz’s side.
Following the elections, the conservative leader said the fact that AfD doubled its vote share in percentage terms is a ‘real warning bell, a real alarm bell for the political parties of the centre in Germany to come up with shared solutions’.
The AfD is likely to hold his feet to the fire over major issues affecting German politics, including migration, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and whether Merz gives too much ground to the SPD.
Experts have suggested that the far-right party will thrive from today’s results.
Pollster Manfred Guellner said: ‘Trust in political institutions is being weakened further. The AfD is the winner from this debacle.’
‘For the AfD, this sign of internal instability … provides further opportunities to portray every other party as part of an establishment cartel that can only be swept aside by the far right,’ Alex Clarkson, a lecturer at King’s College London,added.
‘AfD leaders will hope to attract more national conservative-leaning voters frustrated with the compromises the CDU has had to accept.’
Merz’s coalition has pledged to spur economic growth, take a tougher approach to migration and catch up on long-neglected modernisation.
The CDU have been accused of abandoning their commitment to fiscal conservatism, however, after Merz decided to loosen borrowing limits.
