CDU leader Friedrich Merz failed to secure an absolute majority in the Bundestag during his first attempt to become Chancellor, triggering immediate demands for new elections from opposition leaders.
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), seized on Merz’s defeat to call for his resignation and early elections, emphasizing the unstable foundation upon which the proposed CDU/CSU-SPD coalition now stands.
Merz received only 310 votes in favor, narrowly missing the required majority of 316 from the 630 members of parliament. A total of 307 MPs opposed him, and three abstained.
The outcome marks the first time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany that a candidate failed to win the chancellorship in the first round following successful coalition negotiations, reflecting deep internal divisions within the coalition between Merz’s CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats (SPD).
BREAKING: 🇩🇪 Friedrich Merz becomes the first German chancellor candidate to lose a confidence vote in the first round of voting after failing to attain an absolute majority.
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) May 6, 2025
Just 310 MPs supported his bid, with him needing 316. As it’s a secret vote, members of his own party… pic.twitter.com/mo5ZCODJxK
Bild reported how the result sent shockwaves through the Bundestag, with CDU parliamentarians visibly stunned and uncertain about their next steps. Some CDU members quickly called for an immediate second round of voting, while others feared that Merz might again fall short, further undermining his candidacy.
Meanwhile, AfD members remained jubilant in the chamber following the vote, openly celebrating Merz’s setback. Alice Weidel capitalized on the political crisis, stating on social media: “Merz is the first chancellor candidate of the Federal Republic of Germany to fail in the first round of voting. This clearly demonstrates the weak foundation of the small Union-SPD coalition, already voted out by the citizens.”
Weidel continued, “As the AfD, we have set out to turn this country upside down. We are ready for government responsibility. Reason must now prevail. Mr. Merz should resign immediately, clearing the path for new elections in our country!”
The CDU parliamentary group has scheduled an urgent meeting to determine its next steps, facing immense pressure to restore unity ahead of a potential second round of voting within the next 14 days.
If Merz or another candidate fails to secure an absolute majority within this two-week period, a third and final round of voting would ensue, wherein a simple relative majority would suffice. Such a result, however, would hardly be a ringing endorsement for the CDU leader, whose party has already suffered a drop in the national polls to second, being overtaken by Weidel’s AfD.