What's happened
On May 6, 2025, CDU leader Friedrich Merz secured an absolute majority in the Bundestag after initially falling short in a first vote. With support from the SPD, he overcame a historic setback, marking a significant moment in German politics following the collapse of the previous coalition government.
What's behind the headline?
Key Insights
- Historic Context: This is the first time in post-WWII Germany that a chancellor candidate has failed to secure a majority in the first round of voting, highlighting the fragility of the current coalition.
- Coalition Dynamics: Merz's coalition with the SPD, despite their slim majority, underscores the challenges of governing in a polarized political landscape, especially with the rise of the far-right AfD.
- Future Implications: The need for stability is critical given ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and economic challenges. Merz's ability to unify his coalition will be crucial for effective governance moving forward.
- Pressure on Merz: He must now persuade the six holdout voters from his coalition to support him in the next vote, which could determine the future of his leadership and the coalition's viability.
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Merz's initial failure to secure a majority was a shock, with co-leader Lars Klingbeil expressing optimism about the second vote. The New York Times noted that while the setback was unprecedented, it was likely temporary, as the coalition still holds enough votes to elect a chancellor. This contrast highlights the differing perspectives on the coalition's stability and Merz's leadership capabilities.
How we got here
Friedrich Merz's CDU won a snap election in February 2025, following the collapse of the SPD-led coalition. The CDU's coalition with the SPD was formed after extensive negotiations, but the initial vote on May 6 revealed cracks in their alliance.
Go deeper
- What challenges does Merz face moving forward?
- How does this impact Germany's political landscape?
- What are the implications for the SPD?
More on these topics
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The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in Germany along with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany.
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Friedrich Merz is a German lawyer and politician. A member of the Christian Democratic Union, he served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1994 and was elected to the Bundestag from 1994 until 2009, where he chaired the CDU/CSU parliament
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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative political party in Germany. It is the major catch-all party of the centre-right in German politics.
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Alternative for Germany is a right-wing to far-right political party in Germany. Founded in April 2013, the AfD narrowly missed the 5% electoral threshold to sit in the Bundestag during the 2013 federal election.
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The Bundestag is the German federal parliament. It is the only body that is directly elected by the German people on the Federal level.