Friedrich Merz is elected Chancellor of Germany after historic defeat at first vote

Friedrich Merz was officially appointed Prime Minister of Germany by Parliament on Tuesday (6). Its confirmation occurs after a first vote in which it did not get the necessary votes, receiving only 310, six less than the minimum required. In the second attempt, however, Merz obtained 325 votes, thus ensuring the absolute majority. The first vote revealed the instability of the pact between the CDU/CSU alliance and the SPD social democrats, which is the party of the current Prime Minister, Olaf Scholz. Merz, who is 69, is considered a promising figure on a European continent that faces uncertainties, especially due to the policies of the president of the United States, Donald Trump.

He pledges to revitalize the German economy, which currently deals with a recession. Merz’s election was enthusiastically received by European Union leaders, who underscored Germany’s fundamental role as a pillar of stability in the region. However, the new Prime Minister already faces resistance from his own conservative electorate, who criticizes his decision to make the debt brake easier, marking a significant change after years of fiscal austerity.

In addition, the rise of the far right, represented by the AFD party, which obtained second place in the February elections, is a worrying factor. Confidence in political institutions is declining, which may further favor this political current. Merz will have the challenge of uniting his party and facing both internal and external pressures in an increasingly complex political scenario.

*Report produced with the aid of AI
Posted by Fernando Dias