Second ballot for chancellor election in Germany on Tuesday

After Fail By CDU boss Friedrich Merz in the first attempt at the election as German Chancellor there should still be a second ballot in the Bundestag. This was learned by the German press agency from parliamentary group circles.

Accordingly, election is to be re -elected at 3:15 p.m. Merz failed historically in the first ballot in the morning, he hadn’t received the necessary number of votes.

316 votes would have been necessary – but only 310 for Merz. The coalition factions CDU/CSU and SPD together have 328 seats in parliament. Whoever the deviators were unclear because of the secret election. So it is also uncertain how the second ballot will now go out. In any case, failure in the first ballot is already a debacle for the 69-year-old Merz. It should throw a dark shadow on his chancellorship – if in the end there is still something from it.

In the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, the failed ballot in this form has been a novelty: After a federal election and successful coalition negotiations, a designated Chancellor has failed in the election in the Bundestag.

But why were the necessary voices missing? Christian Democrats and the SPD had stated before the meeting that their MPs were completely present. But at least 18 must not be voted for Merz, maybe more. In theory, opposition politicians could have given their voice for the CDU boss.