Germany in turmoil as Merz loses vote to be chancellor. What next?

After the morning’s uncharacteristically chaotic events, Germany’s parliamentary groups hurried to consult on when a second vote would take place. If Merz fails again in the second vote, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz will remain in charge in an interim …

Germany's Merz fails to be elected chancellor in shock first-round vote

Conservative Merz elected Germany’s new chancellor

In Germany, hours after facing a historic setback, Friedrich Merz has finally been appointed Chancellor. He initially failed to get the number of votes needed in a shocking blow to his leadership and to his newly formed coalition. But the vote later passed …

Is Merz’s double-take chancellor vote a sign of things to come in Germany?

After an Odyssean, two-decade journey, Friedrich Merz has arrived as Germany’s tenth chancellor. But instead of the expected Krönung, a coronation, members of the Bundestag gave him a shot across the bow on Tuesday. For the first time in modern German …

Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes oath of office

Berlin, May 6, (dpa/GNA) – Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has taken his oath of office, after being elected by parliament earlier on Tuesday. The conservative politician, who in an unprecedented turn of events needed two attempts to be elected …

Germany: Bundestag to vote again after Merz misses majority

Skip next section SPD chief Klingbeil says Merz to run again on Tuesday 05/06/2025May 6, 2025SPD chief Klingbeil says Merz to run again on Tuesday The co-leader of Germany's center-left Social Democrats, Lars Klingbeil, has said conservative …

Why is Germany's Friedrich Merz so unpopular with the public?

Friedrich Merz has failed in his first attempt to become the Federal Republic's 10th chancellor on May 6, not garnering the necessary absolute majority of votes in the Bundestag. Only in round two did he manage to gather enough votes and become …

Is Merz still the man to lead Germany?

The election of a new chancellor in the Bundestag has always been a rubber-stamp affair, part of the choreography of smooth power transitions that Germany prides itself on. That’s what the nation wants and expects, and that’s what Friedrich Merz couldn’t …

Merz’s chancellor vote fiasco raises doubts over Germany’s reset

The session of Germany’s Bundestag started in a festive mood with greetings for dignitaries there to witness a peaceful handover of power. A little over an hour later, havoc ensued that will leave a lasting mark on the start of Friedrich Merz’s term as …

Friedrich Merz Elected Germany’s Chancellor in Second Parliamentary Vote After Initial Setback

Friedrich Merz has officially been elected as Germany’s new chancellor following a dramatic second-round vote in the Bundestag, overcoming an unexpected initial setback earlier in the day. Merz secured 325 votes—nine more than the required majority of 316 …