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Germany’s conservative leader unexpectedly stopped at the number needed to form most parliament to become a chancellor.
Friedrich Merz needed 316 votes in the 630-place Bundestag, but provided only 310, with a significant blow to the Christian Democrat leader, two and a half months after the victory in the German federal election.
In his coalition with the left central part there are enough places in the parliament, but it seems that 18 deputies who are supposed to support it disagree. Merz’s breakthrough in the first vote is considered as unprecedented in modern German history.
The Bundestag will now have another 14 days to choose either a measure or other candidate as a chancellor.
According to the German Constitution, there are no restrictions on how many votes can be held, but in the end, if the absolute majority is not reached, the candidate can be elected without one.
The defeat of Merz is considered by political commentators as a humiliation, which is probably inflicted by SPD members, Social Democrat, which signed a coalition agreement with its conservatives on Monday.
Not everyone in the SPD is satisfied with the transaction, but the historical nature of Merz’s failure will be difficult for him. No candidate has failed in this way since 1949.
The embarrassment of the vote on Tuesday undermines the hopes of Merz to become an antidote to weakness and separation of the last government, which fell apart at the end of last year.
Germany’s transfer of the government is carefully choreographed. On the eve of the vote on Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholtz was treated with a traditional grand orchestra of the Armed Forces.
Mertz, 69, had to win the vote, and then visit President Franco-Wolter Steinmeier to swear by performing ancient ambitions to become German chancellor.
His competitor and former chancellor Angela Merkel came to the Bundestag to watch the vote.
