Friedrich Merz was reportedly elected as Germany’s second chancellor by the parliament, although he will begin his time as a weaker leader because he did not receive enough votes in the first round.
For the first time in Germany’s post-World War II history, a prospective chancellor had to make a second try to win the support of parliament.
Even though Merz’s proposed coalition had a comparatively comfortable 12-seat majority in the parliament, the first vote failed.
Why a dozen members of Merz’s planned coalition did not support him in the first ballot is unclear because the voting is private and no dissenter has come forward.
Even though Merz’s ascent to power was only postponed for a few hours, experts predicted the setback would damage the next government’s reputation.
The impression of a continent under siege by rebellious antiestablishment forces that is growing unstable and challenging to control is furthered by Merz’s wobble on the first day.
She said the next government will be under pressure to demonstrate that it can bring parliamentary discipline back to its own ranks and make sure it can pass its laws, many of which may be contentious.
The unsuccessful vote completely caught Berlin off guard and disrupted the regular order of power transfers.
No one in the planned coalition had indicated beforehand that they might not cast a vote, and the parliamentary vote to choose a chancellor had always been a formality.
Diplomats and former Chancellor Angela Merkel were among the dignitaries who arrived in the Bundestag’s visitors’ gallery early on Tuesday to witness Merz’s election as Germany’s tenth postwar chancellor.
Most of these VIPs had departed by the time of the second vote, which took place in the middle of the day.
A ceremony to greet Merz as the new leader was postponed for hours, while journalists waited at Bellevue Palace, the federal president’s home.
Departing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was present at the parliamentary procedures, was preparing to remain in his position as caretaker premier indefinitely due to the uncertainty that followed the first poll.
[READ MORE: Israel Approves New Gaza War Plan]
