Germany’s Merz Suffers Surprise Setback in Bid to Be Confirmed Chancellor

Germany faced a political crisis after Friedrich Merz failed to secure enough support in parliament to be confirmed as the country’s next chancellor in a first round of voting, triggering fresh uncertainty in Europe.

The outcome of the vote has no precedent in postwar Germany and came despite Merz’s proposed coalition holding a relatively comfortable 12-seat majority in the house. Since the vote is secret and no dissenter has come forward, it isn’t clear why a dozen members of Merz’s proposed coalition didn’t back him in the vote.