CDU leader Friedrich Merz fails in first round of election for German Chancellor, coalition parties search for majority and new date, opposition criticizes fiercely. Economic experts warn about consequences for economic development. CSU leader Markus Söder appeals to members of planned black-red coalition. “Now it is important to inform, convince and appeal to the collective responsibility” said Söder. “The reasons may be varied and perhaps understandable for the individual. But now it is not about the individual.” We can still bring a good start. “That’s why I once again ask everyone to look within themselves, to do everything to convince and to be an example for a functioning democracy. We democrats should not be afraid of extreme groups, except if we harm ourselves” said the CSU leader. “And that must not happen.” AfD leader Alice Weidel demands new elections. “Mr. Merz should step down immediately and the way should be opened for new elections in our country” she said. Her co-party leader Tino Chrupalla explained that the failed election shows “what this coalition is really worth if it can’t even get the majority in the first round of the Chancellor election.” The promised political shift by Friedrich Merz has already failed on the first day. Grünen-Fraktion leader Britta Hasselmann sees nothing good for the outlook of the new coalition’s government. “And we see that the question of trust in the common basis agreed upon in the coalition agreement between Friedrich Merz and Lars Klingbeil, which should now be confirmed by the secret vote for the Chancellor, is apparently endangered.” Her co-leader Katharina Dröge sees the need for a stable government. She sees Union and SPD in the responsibility. “Of course, we will not grant our trust to a Chancellor who we think will go in the wrong direction for our country in the coming weeks and months” said Dröge. Former Thuringian Minister President and today’s Bundestag vice-president Bodo Ramelow (Linke) calls for a quick re-election of the Chancellor. “We must not give the AfD the opportunity to escalate the chaos further” said the Linke politician to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Wednesday editions). “This reminds me of the election of Thomas Kemmerich as Thuringian Minister President. Such things must not happen in the German Bundestag.” I am “crushingly disappointed with Mr. Merz and Mr. Klingbeil” said Ramelow. “Because this situation should not have occurred. They should have prepared the election better and included everyone.” Omid Nouripour, vice-president of the German Bundestag, is shocked. “This is not a good day for our democracy” said Nouripour to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group. “It is alarming that Friedrich Merz did not receive sufficient support from his own coalition ranks.” Nouripour urges responsibility. “Governance is not a game, governance is responsibility” said the Green politician. “It is not about parties or personal careers. It is about responsibility for our country.” The SPD fraction leader in the Düsseldorf state parliament, Jochen Ott, expressed his confusion about Friedrich Merz’s failure in the first round of the election. “There are simply things that are bigger than oneself” said Ott to the “Rheinische Post” (Wednesday edition). “Apparently, not everyone understood that. I have no understanding for that.” The Green Party leader in North Rhine-Westphalia, Tim Achtermeyer, reacts with blame on the failed Chancellor election. “The failed Chancellor election is a disaster. Now the consequences of Friedrich Merz’s decision to polarize in the election campaign are becoming apparent” said Achtermeyer to the “Rheinische Post” (Wednesday edition). The head of the Economic Council, Monika Schnitzer, calls on the Union and SPD fractions to quickly provide political clarity on the Chancellor election and government formation. “For the economy, any form of uncertainty is poison” said Schnitzer to the “Rheinische Post” (Wednesday edition). “It is therefore to be hoped that government formation will succeed quickly.” The economic expert Veronika Grimm sees a bad signal in the failed Chancellor election. “This is an unfortunate start, but it was also in the air” said Grimm to the “Rheinische Post” on Tuesday. She now demands clear decisions to quickly turn the situation around in the economy. “There are no simple signals of optimism now, we need solutions. Some still hope that the mood will simply improve. But that is simply wrong, we need clear decisions – we will see if the government has the strength to do so.” The government of the planned coalition of Merz will be difficult. “It will definitely be difficult, because you can’t please everyone in the current situation. Some find the economic policy not market-oriented enough, others find the state pulling back too much. The planned migration policy is too harsh for some, others find it too lax. It will definitely be difficult” said Grimm. That Merz did not receive the majority of the votes of the members of the Bundestag, a so-called “Chancellor majority” of 316 votes, was surprising. Never before has a designated Chancellor failed to win the first round of the election in the Bundestag after successful coalition negotiations following a Bundestag election. The planned coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD has a total of 328 members. However, Merz only received 310 yes votes in the Bundestag on Tuesday morning, 307 members voted against him and three abstained. One vote was invalid and nine votes were not cast. The Bundestag now has 14 days to elect a Chancellor with more than half of its members. If an election within this period does not take place, the Bundestag must “immediately” elect the person who received the most votes.
CDU Leader Merz Fails in First Round, Calls for New Elections
