Germany’s Merz fails to be elected chancellor in unprecedented debacle

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz failed to secure enough parliamentary votes to become chancellor on Tuesday, throwing politics in Europe’s largest economy into disarray as it seeks to emerge from recession and stem far-right extremism

Merz, 69, who led his conservatives to a federal election victory in February and signed a coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), won just 310 votes in the lower house, the Bundestag, six short of an absolute majority.

At least 18 coalition MPs failed to back him.

While not a fatal setback, Merz’s failure to win backing at the first attempt is a first for post-war Germany and an embarrassment for a man who has promised to restore German leadership on the world stage.

“That hope has been dashed. With consequences way beyond our borders.”

Nine lawmakers abstained while 307 voted against Merz, said Bundestag President Julia Kloeckner.