Political chaos as German coalition fails to elect chancellor

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Introduction:

The news topic “Political chaos as German coalition fails to elect chancellor” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.

Quick Summary:

• A proposed coalition of Germany’s liberal and conservative parties has failed to elect a chancellor in a German parliament first round vote.Frederich Merz, the Christian Democratic candidate who was also backed by the liberal SPD, garnered 310 votes on Tuesday, falling six short of the 316 needed for an absolute majority. The session was adjourned for consultations among political groups regarding their next steps. If Merz falls short in a second round, two weeks are provided to select a chancellor before reverting to a simple majority vote, after which the German president must appoint the winner as chancellor or dissolve the legislature. The previous three-way ruling coalition led by the SPD collapsed last November due to disagreements over spending.
• Merz only managed 310 votes in the secret ballot, falling short of the required 316 out of 630 lawmakers. The conservative leader is still expected to take charge of a ruling coalition of his CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats. It was the first time since World War II that an incoming chancellor failed to secure backing from lawmakers in the first round of voting in the Bundestag. German stocks slumped, with the DAX falling 1.8% and ending a nine-day winning streak which had pushed the benchmark index close to its all-time high. He was due to be formally appointed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier later on Tuesday and then sworn in by BundestAG lawmakers before a handover with outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and a first meeting of his new cabinet. He will now travel to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and Warsaw to meet Polish counterpart Donald Tusk.
• Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU, failed to secure the necessary majority in the first round of voting for Chancellor. With 310 votes in favor, he fell short of the required 316 votes, a setback that has left the political landscape in Germany uncertain. The Bundestag convened at 9:00 AM, with the election of the Chancellor as the first item on the agenda. Despite assurances from SPD chief Lars Klingbeil that there would be no defectors from his party, the results revealed a different story. The SPD, CDU and CSU coalition, which collectively held 328 seats, could not muster the necessary support for Merz. The sentiment echoed throughout the chamber, with many leaders urging calm and unity in the face of the unexpected outcome. The possibility of a Kenya coalition remains feasible, despite the unusual nature of such a partnership.

Country-by-Country Breakdown:

Original Coverage

A proposed coalition of Germany’s liberal and conservative parties has failed to elect a chancellor in a German parliament first round vote.Frederich Merz, the Christian Democratic candidate who was also backed by the liberal SPD, garnered 310 votes on Tuesday, falling six short of the 316 needed for an absolute majority. The session was adjourned for consultations among political groups regarding their next steps. If Merz falls short in a second round, two weeks are provided to select a chancellor before reverting to a simple majority vote, after which the German president must appoint the winner as chancellor or dissolve the legislature. The previous three-way ruling coalition led by the SPD collapsed last November due to disagreements over spending. Read full article

Germany in political chaos after Merz loses chancellor vote

Merz only managed 310 votes in the secret ballot, falling short of the required 316 out of 630 lawmakers. The conservative leader is still expected to take charge of a ruling coalition of his CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats. It was the first time since World War II that an incoming chancellor failed to secure backing from lawmakers in the first round of voting in the Bundestag. German stocks slumped, with the DAX falling 1.8% and ending a nine-day winning streak which had pushed the benchmark index close to its all-time high. He was due to be formally appointed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier later on Tuesday and then sworn in by BundestAG lawmakers before a handover with outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and a first meeting of his new cabinet. He will now travel to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and Warsaw to meet Polish counterpart Donald Tusk. Read full article

Friedrich Merz Fails To Secure Chancellor Majority

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU, failed to secure the necessary majority in the first round of voting for Chancellor. With 310 votes in favor, he fell short of the required 316 votes, a setback that has left the political landscape in Germany uncertain. The Bundestag convened at 9:00 AM, with the election of the Chancellor as the first item on the agenda. Despite assurances from SPD chief Lars Klingbeil that there would be no defectors from his party, the results revealed a different story. The SPD, CDU and CSU coalition, which collectively held 328 seats, could not muster the necessary support for Merz. The sentiment echoed throughout the chamber, with many leaders urging calm and unity in the face of the unexpected outcome. The possibility of a Kenya coalition remains feasible, despite the unusual nature of such a partnership. Read full article

Political quake in Berlin: Söder appeals to Berlin +++ Merz fails ++ Second round of elections today?

First time in German history, a candidate for chancellor has failed the first round of voting. A total of 18 dissenters from the CDU and SPD parliamentary groups voted against Merz. A second ballot may still be possible today if all parliamentary groups agree. The first cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place in the evening (6.00 p.m. local time) The black-red coalition’s cushion to the required “chancellor majority” of 316 votes is quite thin at twelve votes. But the election is considered fairly certain and both Merz and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil have expressed confidence that nothing can go wrong.. All MPs without exception will be on board on Tuesday, Merz promised on Monday. Germany will then once again have a government that has a majority in the Bundestag behind it and is fully capable of taking action. Read full article

Global Perspectives Summary:

Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.

How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.

Sources:

• Original Article
• Germany in political chaos after Merz loses chancellor vote
• Friedrich Merz Fails To Secure Chancellor Majority
• Political quake in Berlin: Söder appeals to Berlin +++ Merz fails ++ Second round of elections today?

Source: https://www.rt.com/news/616834-german-coalition-fail-elections/