Randahl FinkMay 6, 2025

Breaking: The German parliament rejects Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz only got 310 votes which did not reach the 316 required to be confirmed as Chancellor of Germany.

He will probably be confirmed in a later vote, but clearly some parliament members are sending a signal.

Source: DW

Show threadHarald Wagener
@randahl first time in the history of the federal republic of germany that a chancellor is not elected in the first round.
May 6, 2025 at 9:24amWeb
Show threadRandahl FinkMay 6, 2025
@oliof How will they correct this? If the vote is anonymous, who will they pressure?
Show threadHarald WagenerMay 6, 2025
@randahl in the second / third attempt, a simple majority will be sufficient. So if the 310 that did vote for the chancellor stick with their vote, it's a delay (plus the complete loss of face for Merz of course), but not an immediate re-election trigger.
Show threadkontrollierterWahnwitzMay 6, 2025

@oliof That's not true.

When there is only one candidate in the second attempt, a 50% majority is required. Other candidates can be proposed by 25% of the parliament. With more than one candidate, a simple majority will be sufficent.

In the third attempt a simple majority will be sufficient, but the president can still deny to appoint the chancellor.

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_63.html

@randahl

Art 63 GG - Einzelnorm

Show threadHarald WagenerMay 6, 2025
@kontrollierterWahnwitz I wouldn't say what I said wasn't true, but it was a bit too condensed. Thanks for the full explainer! @randahl
Show threadkontrollierterWahnwitzMay 6, 2025
@oliof Did not want to be harsh, just to be as precise as possible. It is a new situation for all of us. @randahl
Show threadHarald WagenerMay 6, 2025
@kontrollierterWahnwitz no, it's good to be precise, we're fine (-: @randahl
Show threadIlka 🌐May 7, 2025
@randahl @oliof they collectively decide how to proceed, if they agree to a new vote, they vote within 3 days - that is what happened. Other scenarios could have been they need to take a vote if 2/3 would be sufficiant or if the next in line will be voted on if no solution is found within 14 days a new election will take place. They all wanted to avoid this, as in the current climate the results would be very much different.