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The setback was likely temporary, but it was historic. No modern German chancellor has ever failed to secure the job on a first ballot in Parliament.
May 6, 2025, 5:04 a.m. ET
Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democrats and its leader-in-waiting for the last 10 weeks, failed in his first parliamentary vote to become chancellor on Tuesday morning.
The setback was likely temporary: Mr. Merz’s party, its sister party, the Christian Social Union, and their coalition partner, the center-left Social Democrats, still have enough votes to elect a chancellor and form a government. Mr. Merz will now need to pressure the six holdout voters from his coalition to support him on a second ballot.
But it was a stumble without German precedent. Since the founding of modern Germany, no candidate for chancellor has ever failed the first round of voting.
It was unclear when a second vote will be held.
Jim Tankersley is the Berlin bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Christopher F. Schuetze is a reporter for The Times based in Berlin, covering politics, society and culture in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
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