From a second attempt: The Bundestag chose Friedrich Mertz as Chancellor

From the second attempt, Friedrich Merz was elected Chancellor of Germany in the Bundestag, after surprisingly did not reach six votes this morning, less than 24 hours after Christian Democrats and Social Democrats had signed their coalition agreement. This time he won 325 at 316 votes needed instead of 310 in the morning.

Shortly before that, the unsuccessful vote was the first such case in the history of post -war Germany despite the disputes whether the re -vote would be delayed. Mertz will be sworn in on Tuesday as a new chancellor of Germany at a difficult time when the economy is fighting its longest post-war decline, relations with the leading ally in security-the United States, are deteriorating, and the far-right revives.

Merz is about to receive the documents for his appointment by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and then swear in the Bundestag and hold his first cabinet meeting. According to Bild, he planned to invite the entire government to dinner, at least before the unexpected notch in the morning. It is unknown whether she had affected his plans.

The German coalition agreement outlines plans to revive growth, such as reducing corporate tax and reducing energy prices. It also promises strong support for Ukraine and higher military expenses.

Challenges

Mertz has no experience in state post, although his experience in politics is a decades: he began as a MEP in the 1980s, then his political activity paused in favor of business. The decision is made after losing the fight for the leadership of Angela Merkel conservatives in 2002, which took place several years later, Chancellor of Germany.

Catholic, lawyer, pilot amateur, he is about to show skills in power. He has shown in other areas – for example, as chairman of the Blackrock German division.

But he is also known for not sharing Merkel’s cautious approach and his liberal thinking in the economy. He has been criticized by some for showing a willingness for such right turns that would hold an « alternative to Germany ». An alarming signal for these critics was the use of the far -right anti -immigration package that violated the taboos to work with this party.

Even before he became Chancellor, he managed to give a historically fiscal package to increase infrastructure and defense costs. This raised the question of what his policies really are (and was referred to by some as a reason for his unpopularity), though his supporters see them simply as pragmatic.

« Mertz remains a black box, » Karsten Bzeski, Global Macroeconomic Affairs, told Reuters in Ing, who asks if his turn from a balanced fiscal policy speaks of a long -term vision for the economy.

Cabinet: Change with one exception

Only one minister from the previous government will maintain his post – Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The other members of the cabinet are newly appointed, some of which, like the Minister of Economy, have experience in the private sector in the area they will now manage.

The latter is not common in German politics.

Here are the main ministers:

Lars Kingbale, Minister of Finance (GSDP). Former leader of the GSDP youth wing. He served as an assistant in the electoral area of ​​former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (although he later rejected the pro-Russian position of the former chancellor). Since 2017 he has been chairman of the party. Supports the reinforcement of the German army.

Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defense (GSDP). He was among the popular ministers in Olaf Scholz’s cabinet. Minister of Interior of Lower Saxony (until 2023, when he took over the Ministry of Defense). He stated that Germany must be ready to face war by 2029 due to increasing threats from Russia.

Alexander Dobrint, Interior Minister (Christian Social Union). Former Minister of Transport at Merkel (from 2013 to 2017), a member of the Bundestag since 2002. He openly maintains a restriction on migration and tightening borders control as early as the first week of the post.

Stefani Hubig, Justice Minister (GSDP). A former judge and prosecutor, was Minister of Education in his native Rhineland-Pafalz province, junior minister at the Federal Ministry of Justice. She talked about the need for a stronger fight against anti-Semitism.

Catherine Reiche, Economics Minister (CDU). Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Energy Infrastructure Company Westtergie, a former Bundestag member (1998 to 2015). She is one of the ministers criticized that their role in business can create a conflict of interest.