Chancellor election: Stumbling block for Chancellor Merz

It was a crashing false start, but in the end it was still good with a lot of effort: Around ten weeks after the early Bundestag election, Germany with Friedrich Merz has a new chancellor. The CDU boss replaces the SPD politician Olaf Scholz, whose traffic light coalition was broken apart with the Greens and FDP half a year ago. In the evening, Merz took over the Chancellery – and first commented: “What a day!”

A chancellery has never started so shaky in Germany: Merz was only elected in the second ballot. In the first attempt, he rattled in the Bundestag, six votes for a majority were missing. At least 18 MPs from the Union and SPD coalition factions did not give the CDU boss their “yes”.

At the end of nine votes ahead

So the first relief and not unadorned joy spread on the face of the 69-year-old when the President of the Bundestag Julia Klöckner read the result of the laboriously implemented second ballot. This time it was enough with nine votes – even if not all 328 votes from Union and SPD were still given for Merz.

The new chancellor then took off his oath of office with a firm vote – and the addition “so God’s good help”. He swore to devote his strength to the benefit of the German people and to turn him to damage.

Despite this moment that was longed for so long, a bitter aftertaste will remain if the Sauerlander thinks back the day, which should be the largest in his political career so far. What happened is likely to throw a dark shadow at least at the beginning of his chancellorship.

Is Merz now weakened in office?

The expectations of a new German government are high – in Germany, but in these times, especially abroad. In this country, people hope primarily for boosting the long -weaking economy. To do this, a household must be decided quickly.

Merz is now weakened by these tasks. Does he have to tremble the majority from now on? No, it won’t be like that. Only passenger elections are secret, the Bundestag is openly voted by hand signals or by name. Anonymous deviators will then no longer exist. If you have a problem with Merz or the coalition, you will have to commit yourself in the future. But the question of who did not vote for Merz from the coalition factions in the chancellor’s election will remain – and she could fuel suspicion.

Abroad, one should also perceive Merz ‘false start, but probably also want to tick off quickly. The allies in the EU are waiting too long for the fact that Germany is again fully action -capable as the economic strongest and most populous country in Europe. Especially with a view to the radical change of course in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump as well as the threat from Russia and the competition from China.

Merz has experience with second attempts

Merz has already put out many defeats. After the rise of Angela Merkel, he left politics frustrated because there was no career perspective for him. His comeback directly to the party leadership only succeeded in the third attempt after losing two martial candidates. But he got up again and again. And now made it to the Chancellery.

The Union and the SPD have made a lot and now want to go to work quickly. The outgoing Chancellor Scholz handed over his official business to Merz in the evening. In the Chancellery there is hardly a day without a new test, Scholz gave his successor on the way – maybe also with a view of the past hours. He added: “But with the same certainty I also say: Germany will exist.”

The ministers have already received their appointment certificates from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and were sworn in in the Bundestag. A fixed hand of Merz followed each.

At its first session, the new federal cabinet wanted to come together late in the evening. As the first decision, the deletion of agents and coordinators promised in the coalition agreement was planned – as a sign that one is serious about reducing bureaucracy.

Memorial or settlement of old bills?

But the question remains in mind: Why did the start went so wrong? Union and SPD had actually expected Merz with full approval before the session. It was not on the SPD, the SPD assured immediately after the debacle. “We can rely on us,” emphasized the designated Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, according to parliamentary group circles. But the choice was secret, so the voting behavior cannot be checked.

CSU boss Markus Söder warned the deputies of the Union and the SPD that now was the wrong time for games, memo or settling of old bills. When choosing the Chancellor, it is also not just a person, but about an entire government.

Is Merz’s credibility loan?

However, Merz had also triggered a frustration that was partly severely noticeable in the Union series when he only stood up for defense spending days after the Bundestag election. Even though his party had given the impression of standing in the debt brake in the Bundestag election campaign.

Since then, Merz’s popularity values ​​have been sinking in surveys, voters feel cheated – and some have also been touched in the faction. The 69-year-old himself admitted publicly: “I know that I have now used a very high loan, also when it comes to my personal credibility.” He now has to repay this loan as a chancellor.