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Published May 6, 2025last updated May 6, 2025Friedrich Merz has been dealt an unexpected blow in the first round of voting meant to clear his way to become chancellor of the country immediately. Follow live.
https://p.dw.com/p/4txyR
Skip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to knowFriedrich Merz has been dealt an unprecedented setback as he failed to garner the votes required to be chancellor immediately.
It wasn’t initially clear what will happen next and whether a vote will be held straight away. Parties are now meeting to decide on the next steps. But it appears Merz’s swearing-in as head of Germany’s government could be delayed.
Follow here for the latest updates on Germany’s new government on May 6:
Skip next section When will a second round of voting take place?May 6, 2025
When will a second round of voting take place?The German parliament assembled with the expectation that Friedrich Merz would win the votes required to be the next chancellor, so 316 votes out of a 630-member parliament.
But Merz fell short of the required vote and received 310 votes, even though the coalition partners, CDU/CSU and the center-left SPD, have 328 seats between them.
Richard Walker, DW chief international correspondent, explains that the new development will not be an issue if a second voting takes place soon. “But if the process drags on this, there will be question marks,” he said.
Merz left the chamber joined by other senior members of his conservative bloc for a special emergency session.
German news website Der Spiegel reported that a second round of voting, according to CDU/CSU parliamentary group, would only be possible if all parliamentary groups waive deadlines. Speigel said members were discussing a Friday vote.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tyKF
Skip next section What happens now that Merz failed to secure a majority?May 6, 2025
What happens now that Merz failed to secure a majority?Friedrich Merz was expected to be the new chancellor of the country by Tuesday noon, but it appears that the swearing-ceremony could be delayed since he failed to secure a majority of the votes to be chancellor this morning.
According to German law, if Merz fails to secure an absolute majority in the first round of voting, a second round is held.
The Bundestag then has 14 days to elect another candidate to be chancellor. There is no limit to the number of possible ballots, although an absolute majority is always required.
If this second round of voting also fails to produce a result, the election process enters a third phase in which a new election must take place immediately.
The person who receives the largest number of votes (relative majority) is then elected to be chancellor.
Merz’s conservative CDU-CSU bloc won national elections in February but with 28.5% of the vote, it needs at least one partner.
Merz agreed to form a coalition with the Social Democrats, who won just 16.4%, their worst result in German post-war history.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tyK7
Skip next section Merz fails to clear hurdle in first round of voting to be next chancellorMay 6, 2025
Merz fails to clear hurdle in first round of voting to be next chancellorIn a shocking development, Friedrich Merz has failed to clear the first hurdle to be the new chancellor of Germany after he could not secure the parliamentary majority required to become the country’s new government leader.
He garnered 310 votes in favor in a secret ballot, six fewer than the required majority of 316. Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, has 630 members in total.
The coalition of CDU, CSU and SPD have a total of 328 lawmakers.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tyAy
Skip next section German inauguration event — what to knowMay 6, 2025
German inauguration event — what to knowCoalition parties hold 328 out of 630 seats in parliamentImage: Fabrizio Bensch/REUTERSLawmakers are largely expected to vote in Friedrich Merz as the new chancellor of the country on Tuesday morning.
Following the vote, Merz will be driven to the Bellevue Palace, the official residence of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
He receives his appointment papers there, and he then returns to the Bundestag to be sworn in.
The day will see the first cabinet meeting and a TV appearance by Merz and his team. But from 8 pm onwards, things start to wind down.
According to German tabloid newspaper Bild, Merz plans to invite his government team to a dinner with drinks.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ty2T
Skip next section Who’s in Merz’s new cabinet?May 6, 2025
Who’s in Merz’s new cabinet?Friedrich Merz with Johann Wadephul Image: Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance/dpaFriedrich Merz is expected to chair a first meeting of his new cabinet on Tuesday, which includes SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil as finance minister and also SPD’s Boris Pistorius who is staying on in his role as defense minister.
Merz’s cabinet has several surprising names, since there are people who previously held jobs in the private sector, which is a rare thing in the country’s government. A full list —
Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) Party: Social Democratic Party or SPD
Succeeds: Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) and Jörg Kukies (SPD) and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (of the Greens)
Background: Former leader of the SPD’s youth wing.
Former roles: Served as constituency assistant to former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (though he later repudiated the former chancellor’s pro-Moscow stance), served as SPD general secretary, then as party chairman (since 2017)
Notable stances: He once opposed scrapping some unemployment benefits, but later dropped this. He is also in favor of strengthening Germany’s military.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul Party: Christian Democratic Union or CDU
Succeeds: Annalena Baerbock (of the Greens)
Former roles: German Bundestag member since 2009, deputy leader of the conservative CDU/CSU faction in parliament, responsible for foreign and defense issues
Notable stances: Widely seen as loyal to Merz and among his staunchest supporters. Jana Puglierin of the European Council on Foreign Relations expects he will steer critical relationships with the US, China and Russia.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius Party: SPD
Succeeds: Stays on in his role as defense minister
Background: Pistorius is the only member of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet to take part in the new government as one of Germany’s more popular politicians.
Former roles: Interior minister in Lower Saxony (until 2023)
Notable stances: Pistorius has said Germany should be ready to face a war by 2029 due to increasing threats from Russi. He was nominated to become the SPD candidate for chancellor following the collapse of Scholz’ coalition government last year, but he withdrew from the race when Scholz signaled he would run again.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt Party: CSU
Succeeds: Nancy Faeser (of the SPD)
Former roles: Transport minister under former Chancellor Angela Merkel (from 2013 until 2017), Bundestag member since 2002
Notable stances: Outspoken supporter of curbing illegal migration, with a plan to tighten border control within the first week in office.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig Party: SPD
Succeeds: Volker Wissing
Background: Former judge and public prosecutor
Former roles: Education minister in her home state of Rhineland-Palatinate, junior minister in the federal justice ministry
Notable stances: Hubig has often spoken about the need to increase efforts to combat antisemitism in Germany. She takes up the post amid growing calls for a ban on the far-right AfD party.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche Party: CDU
Succeeds: Robert Habeck (of the Greens)
Former roles: CEO of regional energy infrastructure firm Westenergie, former Bundestag member (from 1998 to 2015)
Notable stances: Reiche faces criticism over her former role as CEO of an energy infrastructure firm, with some saying her government post could pose a conflict of interest.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ty0Q
Skip next section Lawmakers widely expected to back MerzMay 6, 2025
Lawmakers widely expected to back MerzLawmakers in the lower house of parliament are set to cast their votes to confirm Merz as the new chancellor. It is widely expected that he will succeed since his party has already secured a coalition deal with the center-left Social Democrats, giving him a majority in the Bundestag.
The voting session began at 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), and will be followed by a series of official procedures before Merz takes the oath of office at noon. The official handover from outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz will take place later in the afternoon.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ty0P
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageMay 6, 2025
Welcome to our coverageIt’s a big day in Germany with the country set to get a new chancellor after Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc (CDU/CSU) signed a coalition agreement to govern the country with the incumbent center-left Social Democrats (SPD).
The partnership deal between Merz’s CDU/CSU and SPD came about through a series of steps and negotiations in the two months following the election that saw the CDU/CSU come out on top in the polls.
The would-be coalition signed a deal that aims to spur economic growth, ramp up defense spending, take a tougher approach to migration and catch up on long-neglected modernization for the 27-nation European Union’s most populous member.
More to follow throughout the day.
https://p.dw.com/p/4txzy
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