CDU boss Friedrich Merz surprisingly suffered a heavy setback on the way to the Chancellery: the 69-year-old failed in the Bundestag election in the first ballot. A situation in which none of the nine chancellor has been in front of him yet. Union and SPD still want to go to a second ballot with Merz – as early as possible.
What should become the biggest day in his political career for the man from the Sauerland becomes a debacle. It should throw a dark shadow on his chancellorship – if in the end there will be something from it.
Woman and daughters at the moment of failure in the stands
His wife Charlotte, two daughters Carola and Constanze and ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) pursued the grandstand, as Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) announced a few minutes after 10 a.m. in the first ballot. Merz received 310 out of 621 votes in a secret vote and thus 6 less than the necessary majority of 316. The coalition factions CDU/CSU and SPD together have 328 seats in parliament.
This is a novelty in the history of the Federal Republic in the form: After a federal election and successful coalition negotiations, a designated Chancellor failed to election in the Bundestag. Merz hardly showed an emotion when the result was announced: petrified facial features, the pine, the look straight ahead.
Merz knows such moments. After Merkel’s ascent, he left politics frustrated because there was no career perspective for him. His comeback directly to the party leadership only succeeded in the third attempt after losing two martial candidates. But he got up again and again. And has now made it almost at the top. But so far only almost.
Managing Director Scholz is now continuing
Everything looked so good on Monday: Union and SPD had sealed the fifth black and red alliance in the history of the Federal Republic and clarified their last personnel issues with the signing of the coalition agreement. With the chancellor election, the two factions now wanted to take the last hurdle on the way to a functional government half a year after the traffic light coalition.
This is now put on ice. The planned appointment of Merz by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has initially burst. The swearing in the cabinet too. Just like the previously planned transfer of public ministries. The executive Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) – already ceremoniously adopted on Monday with a large tap – and his red -green fuselage cabinet continued to rule for the time being.
Klingbeil insured: SPD stood at Merz
It is still unclear who is responsible for the failure of Merz on the first attempt. Union and the SPD had stated before the meeting that their MPs were completely present. But at least 18 must not be voted for Merz, maybe more. In theory, opposition politicians could have given their voice for the CDU boss.
The comrades assured the SPD immediately after the defeat. According to information from parliamentary group circles, SPD parliamentary group leader Lars Klingbeil stated that he “did not have the slightest indication that the SPD did not stand fully”. The clear membership vote on the coalition agreement is an order to the parliamentary group. “And it fulfills it. We can rely on us,” said the designated Vice Chancellor.
But Klingbeil can certainly not be, because the choice was secret – so it cannot be checked whether someone else has not coordinated other than he or she announced it. The Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig (SPD), emphasized after a faction session: “I trust all of our colleagues in the SPD parliamentary group.” And it was horrified. “I think what happened today, irresponsible.”
Left “Krachsauer”, Greens concerned
The AfD particularly rejoiced from the opposition and immediately called for a new election of the Bundestag. Green boss Franziska Brantner, on the other hand, told the German Press Agency: “We wish for a government capable of action for Europe and Germany.” Merz and Klingbeil would now have to prove that they could secure the majority of their factions now, but also for four years. Thuringia’s former Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) also blamed Merz and Klingbeil for the situation. “I am Krachsauer on the coalition,” he told the dpa.
How things are going on now
Even if it has never occurred, the Basic Law also regulates the case of a failed ballot. “If the proposed is not chosen, the Bundestag can choose a Federal Chancellor within 14 days of the ballot with more than half of its members,” says Article 63.
When the next ballot will take place remained open at first – and was discussed in different -occupied rounds in the Merz office, sometimes the Union and SPD alone, sometimes with the Greens and Left. The goal: to start a new attempt as soon as possible. Whether this is still possible is still being checked legally.
Söder doesn’t want to play
The fact that Merz was set up for a second ballot could point out that he expects a better result. The crucial question: did some MPs only want to miss a memo and agree in the next ballot – or do they actually want to prevent his chancellorship?
CSU boss Markus Söder warned the deputies of the Union and the SPD that now was the wrong time for games, memo or settling of old bills. “We need stability than ever and could not achieve it today,” he said in Munich. When choosing the Chancellor, it is also not just a person, but about an entire government.
Is Merz’s credibility loan?
However, Merz had also triggered a frustration that was partly severely noticeable in the Union series when he only stood up for defense spending days after the Bundestag election. Even though his party had given the impression of standing in the debt brake in the Bundestag election campaign.
Since then, Merz’s popularity values have been sinking in surveys, voters feel cheated – and some have also been touched in the faction. The 69-year-old himself admitted publicly: “I know that I have now used a very high loan, also when it comes to my personal credibility.” He wanted to repay this loan as a chancellor – if you leave it.
Maybe Berlin instead of Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday
There is now a two -week period for the choice of the Chancellor. Nobody wants to wait for a new, stable government that long after Germany has been ruled by a minority cabinet for six months. The expectations are high. In Germany, people hope to be stimulating the long -weaking economy. To do this, a household must be decided quickly.
Abroad, the European allies have been waiting for the radical course of course in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump that Germany as the economic strongest and most populous EU country will be able to act again-especially with a view to the threat from Russia and the competition from China.
On Wednesday, Merz actually wanted to go to Paris and Warsaw for his first chancellor. It is still open in the early afternoon whether something becomes of it.