The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz did not receive enough votes in the first round of voting in the Bundestag for the future Chancellor of Germany.
Tabloid "Bild" writes with a note "urgent":
"Failure! CDU leader Friedrich Merz did not receive the necessary majority of votes in the first round of voting!"
To elect Merz as the new chancellor, 316 votes in favor were required in the first round, but the CDU chairman was able to enlist the support of only 310 deputies. 307 parliamentarians voted "against", three abstained.
"Thus, Merz is still NOT elected federal chancellor!" — the media summarize.
The CDU/CSU and SPD factions forming the new ruling coalition are represented by 208 and 120 deputies, respectively, and thus have 328 votes — that is, only 12 more than necessary. The outcome of the first round of voting indicates that 28 CDU/CSU and SPD deputies did not support Merz's candidacy.