German conservative leader Friedrich Merz loses vote to become chancellor

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz on Tuesday failed to gain enough votes in parliament to become chancellor, a historic first.

Merz lost the election to be Germany's 10th chancellor since World War II by six votes, which is the first time since the end of the war that a candidate for chancellor has failed to win on the first ballot, the Associated Press reported. He received 310  out of 630 votes, but needed a majority of 316 to win. His coalition, one of the slimmest postwar majorities, holds 328 seats.

The election was held by secret ballot, so it is unknown who in Merz's coalition didn't vote for him.

Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, lead the coalition. The center-left Social Democrats, which is outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, are also part of the coalition.

Following the failed vote, the parties will regroup to discuss next steps.

The lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, has 14 days to elect a candidate for chancellor with an absolute majority. Merz can run again, along with other lawmakers. An unlimited number of votes can be held within those two weeks.

If Merz or another candidate for chancellor doesn't get the majority vote within that time, then the president can either appoint the candidate who wins the most votes as chancellor or dissolve parliament and hold a new national election.

The designated next foreign minister, Johann Wadepuhl, said he believes Merz will ultimately win.

“It is an annoying process, but in a parliamentary democracy, in a liberal country, this is unfortunately one of the scenarios that you have to be prepared for,” Wadepuhl told reporters.

Alice Weidel, co-leader of the biggest opposition party, Alternative for Germany, said Merz's failure to win proves that his coalition has a “weak foundation.” She called for his immediate resignation and new elections to be held.