Merz fails to be elected Germany’s chancellor in first parliament vote
Al Jazeera
Germany’s conservative leader falls short by six votes in the first round of voting that he was widely expected to win.
Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has failed in his bid to become the country’s 10th chancellor, falling short by just six votes in the first round of voting in the Bundestag.
Merz, who had been widely expected to win the parliamentary vote, needed 316 votes to win in the secret ballot held on Tuesday, but he received only 310 votes.
The failure to win the required majority means that the political parties will now regroup to discuss the next steps.
The Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, has 14 days to elect a chancellor, either Merz or another candidate, who will need an outright majority. The next voting session could take place next Tuesday.
Merz’s CDU/CSU conservatives had topped the polls in the national elections in February with 28.5 percent of the vote, but they still require at least one coalition partner to form a majority government.
NGO documents accounts of atrocities during paramilitary force’s April assault on the North Darfur facility.
Comments come after long meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and two senior US officials in Moscow.
Legal experts say there is no basis in the US Constitution for a president to revoke pardons.
Congresswoman Omar calls Trump’s comments about her ‘creepy’ after the US president launches into an anti-Somali tirade.
US is pushing for a non-aggression pact between Israel, Syria, but Netanyahu has shown little appetite for compromise.
Talks to take place in Moscow amid renewed diplomatic push to end long-running war.
PM Modi said he wants those who can’t afford shoes to be able to fly. But shrinking competition is killing that hope.
Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov said Russian forces have also captured the city of Vovchansk in Kharkiv.
Samar and Abdulrahman had everything ready for their baby. But rains ruined their plans, as they try to survive in Gaza.
US military build-up near Venezuela raises fearof invasion; White House defends kill order of alleged drug smugglers.
Donald Trump warns against actions that could ‘interfere with Syria’s evolution’ amid new Israeli incursion, strikes.
Floods across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka have killed nearly 1,000 people in less than a week.
Many of us behind the wall believe the system is built for conviction. So we’re learning the law to fight our cases.