Friedrich Merz, the conservative leader seeking to become Germany’s next chancellor, failed to obtain the necessary votes to win the position in parliament on Tuesday.
Out of a total of 630 votes, Merz needed a majority of 316 votes to win the country’s vote in the Bundestag, according to the Associated Press. However, Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, received only 310. The failure to obtain the necessary votes was considered a surprise, as it was speculated that Merz would attain the political victory relatively easily since his party won Germany’s federal election in February.
Merz’s Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union parties, right of center parties, teamed up to win with 28.5% of the vote, according to reports. However, with that low a percentage, a third party member would be needed to win the Bundestag election. Before the election, the CDU and the CSU signed a coalition deal with the Social Democrats (SPD), a left of center party, in anticipation of forming Germany’s next government.
Merz’s coalition motto was “Responsibility for Germany,” and the agreement was 144 pages long. It reportedly called for a “social market economy” that provided “opportunities and prosperity for all” and was dedicated to fortifying Germany’s national defense to “safeguard freedom and peace.”
“Germany can successfully master every task on its own and in close cooperation with our partners and friends in the world,” read the document for the proposed government coalition with the CDU, CSU, and SPD.
“We know that it is our almost historical obligation to lead this coalition to success. We are determined to do this together,” Merz said before the vote.
Merz’s defeat marks the first time in Germany’s history that an incoming chancellor did not obtain the votes necessary to win the election. The country proceeds to a second round of voting in which the Bundestag has 14 days to elect someone to the position, with the candidate needing an absolute majority of votes to win. Merz is expected to be the candidate once more.
If Merz fails again, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s president, either appoints the candidate who receives the most votes in the second round of the Bundestag election as chancellor or holds a national election, according to the Associated Press.