Friedrich Merz fails first Bundestag vote in historic blow to authority

Germany’s new chancellor Friedrich Merz secures office after initial defeat, exposing fragile coalition and political unrest.

Friedrich Merz after his swearing-in ceremony as the new coalition government takes office in Berlin, Germany, on May 6, 2025. Photo by Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The day that was meant to celebrate Friedrich Merz’s political triumph instead opened a window into Germany’s deepening political volatility. Despite months of campaign strategy and coalition building, the leader of the Christian Democrats suffered a stunning setback: he failed to secure the required absolute majority in the Bundestag’s first chancellor vote—a first in the 80-year history of the Federal Republic.

The Friedrich Merz Bundestag vote debacle stunned the German political elite. Anticipation had filled the parliamentary chamber early that day, as lawmakers and distinguished guests arrived dressed for the historical occasion. Onlookers included former chancellor Angela Merkel, seated calmly beside outgoing finance minister Jörg Kukies and future economy minister Katherina Reiche. Merz’s wife Charlotte, alongside their two daughters, smiled confidently from the upper galleries, expecting a moment of family pride.

But that confidence evaporated when Bundestag president Julia Klöckner announced the shocking result: Merz had missed the crucial 316-vote threshold, falling short by six votes despite his coalition holding 328 seats. The failure was not only a logistical embarrassment but also a serious political wound to his authority. It upended the ceremonial flow of the day and triggered hours of internal scrambling.

Coalition misstep exposes fragile unity

The failed Friedrich Merz Bundestag vote underscored the internal fragility of Germany’s new governing coalition. A secret ballot meant that no one could be certain who within the alliance of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) had defected. However, rumors quickly began circulating. Some CDU members suspected dissent among SPD parliamentarians dissatisfied with Lars Klingbeil—Merz’s coalition partner and the incoming vice-chancellor—particularly over his controversial cabinet picks and abrupt consolidation of party power.

Conversely, SPD lawmakers deflected blame, pointing toward conservative discontent with Merz’s own policy shifts. His recent decision to relax the constitutional borrowing limit and launch a €1 trillion investment plan for defense and infrastructure irritated fiscal hawks within his bloc.

“Merz has offended a lot of people. Klingbeil has offended a lot of people too,” remarked Andrea Römmele, a political scientist observing from the Bundestag. “This has weakened him, just as everyone in Europe is watching and waiting for Germany to come back.”

Indeed, this breakdown in unity came at a delicate moment. Germany had just emerged from a chaotic six-month electoral cycle that culminated in the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s government in November. The new coalition was supposed to provide a sense of order and stability. Instead, it has begun its tenure with a show of discord.

A temporary recovery, but long-term damage?

After hours of closed-door talks and frenzied negotiations, Merz and Klingbeil agreed to hold a second vote that same day, hoping that protest voters would reconsider the consequences of a failed transition. This time, Merz won the chancellorship. Yet the symbolic damage was already done.

Even as the vote passed, many observers noted that Merz’s credibility had been dented. His failure to command initial parliamentary discipline stood in stark contrast to the orderly handovers that typically mark Germany’s postwar democracy.

“This is absolutely historic,” said Römmele. “No chancellor has ever lost a first vote. It shows how fragile the whole coalition is.”

The misstep delayed formal ceremonies, including scheduled ministerial handovers and Merz’s planned diplomatic trip to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. Outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz returned quietly to the chancellery after receiving his official farewell from the Bundeswehr’s brass band the night before. The smooth transfer of power that Germany typically showcases to the world was replaced by scenes of confusion and tension.

Rising far-right threat and external challenges

The Friedrich Merz Bundestag vote controversy also unfolded amid rising challenges both within and beyond Germany’s borders. Domestically, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party continues to grow in influence. Having secured over 20% of the February vote, the AfD is now polling neck-and-neck with the CDU and has made it clear that it aims to win the next federal election in 2029.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel openly celebrated Merz’s initial failure, calling for new elections and labeling it a “good day for Germany.” Her counterpart, Tino Chrupalla, echoed the sentiment, using the disruption to further question the legitimacy and cohesion of Germany’s mainstream parties.

Meanwhile, Merz faces geopolitical turbulence. A likely return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency threatens transatlantic relations. Trump’s threats to reduce NATO commitments and impose punitive trade tariffs on European Union goods could shake Germany’s already fragile economy, pushing it further into contraction after years of stagnation.

As a traditional Atlanticist, Merz must now navigate a world in which Washington can no longer be fully relied upon. Germany’s global partnerships and economic stability hang in the balance at a time when political confidence at home is anything but secure.

A call to unify or perish

While some analysts sought to minimize the significance of Merz’s initial defeat, the implications for his leadership are hard to ignore. Historical context does provide some precedent: Konrad Adenauer was elected by a single vote in 1949, and Helmut Kohl also faced narrow margins in 1994. Still, the optics of this episode—in a hyper-connected media environment and under the microscope of European partners—are markedly different.

“This is a one-off,” said Andreas Busch, a political scientist from Göttingen University. “A few MPs wanted to send a signal. Merz still has the support for his coalition.”

But even if the coalition holds, Merz must now govern with his authority diminished. The episode reinforces the need for him to adopt a less polarizing tone and work to unify not only his own party but also his alliance with the SPD. Armin Steinbach of HEC Paris put it succinctly: “The message to Merz is that he must become a unifying figure, less polarising than in the past.”

Whether he succeeds in that transformation will determine not only the success of his chancellorship but also the future of centrist governance in Germany. The Friedrich Merz Bundestag vote may have ended in a technical victory, but it has revealed the political fragility beneath the surface—and issued a stark warning to those counting on stability in uncertain times.