In a secret ballot, Merza's candidacy supported on Tuesday, May 6, 310 MPs of the German Bundestag. Against it was 307. The majority he needed was 316 votes.
This consequence was not expected due to the fact that the coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD social democracy had a full of 328 votes in the Bundestag. According to Bundestag president Julia Kloeckner, 621 of 630 Members took part in the Tuesday vote. 1 vote was void.
Two weeks to repeat the selection
This situation is simply a novelism in German politics. Never before after the German parliamentary elections and the successful coalition negotiations, the candidate for Chancellor was lost in the first vote.
However, the German Basic Law provides for a procedure in this case. Article 63 states: "If the proposed candidate is not elected, the Bundestag may, within 14 days of the vote, elect a fresh national Chancellor by a majority of more than half its members".
If the second approach had besides failed, a simple majority of Members taking part in the vote would suffice in the 3rd round. However, then it is the president of the West Germany who decides whether to appoint a Chancellor elected by a specified majority or to dissolve Parliament and announce fresh elections.
What's next?
On Tuesday, following a failed vote, the parliamentary clubs of coalition parties gathered to find what to do. It is not yet known erstwhile the election of the Chancellor will be re-elected. According to commentators, it is not excluded that the second approach to electing the Chancellor will take place on Friday, 9 May. But then both coalition clubs will gotta supply 100% attendance and announce organization discipline in a vote.