Historic: Friedrich Merz failed to be elected – the first failed Chancellor Candidate in German History. A clear Votum of Non-Confidence. Olaf Scholz back as Caretaker Chancellor

As per the main news from Germany, this was said to be a surprise, a political drama:

Friedrich Merz, who was leading the CDU as Cancellor Candidate and was able to form a coalition with the SPD failed today to be elected as the new Cancellor of Germany – by 6 votes. Merz has no majority in an otherwise secured majority situation. What happened?

In the run-down to his election, Merz was accused of defrauding voters and many members of the CDU fraction in Parliament were shocked about Merz allowing a constitutional increase of the debt ceiling and giving away to the Greens EUR 100 billions in exchange. For many CDU members, this was a betrayal: which results in today’s failed vote. Needless to say that many on the SPD’s side have also expressed their discontent.

It is a non-confidence vote against Friedrich Merz.

Now, Merz requests an immediate new vote. But this is not so easy. This will need a special majority of the Parliament of 2/3. And this means that the CDU must agree either with the extreme-left (a tiny communist party), or with the AfD (recently designated by an SPD caretaker Minister as exteme-right).

It is probably not recommended to proceed to an immediate new vote after this clear non-confidence vote against Merz. Merz is well disqualified and the coalition, as well as Merz, will need a time-out to evaluate the situation.

Developing story.