Merz is to be elected German Chancellor on May 6th

CDU boss Friedrich Merz is to be elected Chancellor two and a half months after the German Bundestag election on May 6th.

Parliamentary Physician Julia Klöckner made the preparation for this appointment, the Bundestag said. However, the consent of the CDU, CSU and SPD for the coalition agreement is a prerequisite.

The CSU board has already approved the coalition agreement presented last week, the CDU will decide on April 28 at a small party congress. From Tuesday, the SPD members vote on the 144-page contract. Not only the majority of the votes, but also a participation of at least 20 percent of the members in purely digital coordination is required for the acceptance of the coalition agreement.

The new government could be in office for half a year after traffic light crash

If Merz is elected Chancellor, his cabinet in the Bundestag should also be sworn in on May 6th. Then the Federal Government can start working exactly half a year after the break of the « traffic light » coalition of Olaf Scholz on November 6, 2024.

Merz needs 316 votes when choosing a chancellor

According to Article 63 of the German Basic Law, the Federal Chancellor is elected by the Federal President by the Bundestag without pronunciation. He needs the votes of the majority of the members of the Bundestag – 316 votes. After his election, Merz would immediately go to Bellevue Castle to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who presented him with the certificate of appointment.

Eid performance with the original version of the Basic Law

Back in the Bundestag, the new Chancellor is sworn in. For this purpose, the original version of the Basic Law kept at the director of the German Bundestag is taken out in the safe, from which the new Chancellor then reads the oath formula.

The oath of office in Article 56 of the Basic Law is: « I swear that I devote my strength to the benefit of the German people, to increase its benefits, to harm him, to do so, to maintain and defend the Basic Law and the laws of the federal government, fulfill my duties conscientiously and practice justice against everyone. So God helps me. » The last sentence can also be omitted.

Cabinet also receives the Federal President’s appointment certificate

Usually the Chancellor then goes to Bellevue Castle again – this time with his ministers, who do not have to be elected by the Bundestag. You will also receive the appointment certificates from the Federal President and then remove the oath in the Bundestag.

This means that the new federal government is officially in office. With her appointment, the term of office of the old, only managing government by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) ends automatically.