On May 6, 2025, Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance, failed to secure the necessary majority in the Bundestag to be elected as the country’s next Chancellor. The vote marks a significant setback for Merz and throws Germany’s political future into uncertainty.
In the first round of voting, Merz received 310 votes in favor — six short of the absolute majority of 316 required to confirm a Chancellor. A total of 307 lawmakers voted against his candidacy, and three abstained. Following the narrow result, the Bundestag session was paused to allow party groups to assess the situation and discuss next steps.
This outcome is especially notable given that the CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which had agreed to form a coalition after the February 2025 federal elections, hold a combined 328 seats in the Bundestag. The result indicates potential dissent within the ranks of the SPD, where some members may have voted against the agreement or chosen to abstain.
Germany’s Basic Law stipulates that the Bundestag has 14 days to elect a Chancellor with an absolute majority. If no candidate achieves this threshold during this period, a third round of voting may be held, where a simple plurality is sufficient. If that too fails, the country’s Federal President may appoint the Chancellor or dissolve the Bundestag, triggering new elections.
This is the first time in Germany’s post-war history that a Chancellor candidate backed by a parliamentary majority has failed in the initial vote. Merz, a veteran conservative politician and former CDU parliamentary leader, had been widely expected to assume office without difficulty.
Observers point to possible fractures within the coalition as a source of the defeat, signaling challenges ahead for any future government formed under Merz’s leadership. The vote comes amid rising public concerns over economic stagnation, energy policy, and national security — issues that are likely to shape the direction of the next cabinet.
The Bundestag is expected to reconvene for a second vote. In the interim, party leaders will likely intensify negotiations to secure support for Merz or to explore alternative leadership options if consensus cannot be reached.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s role will become critical if the deadlock continues. His options include appointing Merz with a minority government or calling for new federal elections — a move that could further destabilize the political landscape in Europe’s largest economy.
As Germany navigates this unexpected hurdle, attention now turns to how the CDU/CSU and SPD can maintain their coalition agreement and whether Merz can consolidate the support needed to govern.
