Friedrich Merz fails to become chancellor after unexpected parliamentary vote setback

In February, Germany's Friedrich Merz attempted to secure the position of chancellor following a federal election victory. He led the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union coalition, which gained 28.5% of the votes but required a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats, who lagged with only 16.4%. Merz faced a parliamentary vote where he needed a majority of 316 votes out of the 630-seat Bundestag but only achieved 310. This unprecedented failure saw his coalition thrown into confusion, marking the first time a candidate has failed to win on the first ballot since World War II, despite having expected support. Following this vote, parliament has a 14-day window to elect either Merz or another candidate. If no candidate achieves an outright majority, Germany's Constitution permits the appointment of the candidate with the most votes by the president or the dissolution of the Bundestag to trigger new elections. The embarrassment of Merz's defeat calls into question his governing plans and may complicate relations within his coalition, suggesting turmoil ahead as he starts his chancellorship journey with a significant setback.