Berlin:
For the first time in post WWII history a coalition agreement to elect a chancellor failed to reach its goal. In todays free, fair (including secrecy of each individual vote) election in the Bundestag the CDU/SPD coalition missed its goal of 316/630 votes to elect Friedrich Merz as chancellor by a margin of 6 votes with 310 votes total. The coalition had a majority of 328 votes, indicating that 18 MPs of CDU/SPD did NOT vote for Merz.
We are at a point now, somewhere in March 1930 (May, ok, still history rhymes), when Präsidialkabinette started after the last grand coalition of SPD Chancellor Müller failed (history rhymes...). Weimar showed its weakness in dealing with the inability to reach compromise in order to get a functioning government. Weimar resorted to the mentioned Präsidialkabinette by (ab)using Article 48. Post-war Germany now is at a point where rubber has to hit the road: Are we better than that?
We dont have Article 48. According to the Basic Law the President has to dissolve the Bundestag (and call for new elections? Does he have a choice here? I have to look it up) or appoint a chancellor with a minority vote.
Now, this is all to happen, if no agreement can be made. I am confident the CD/SPD are having internal discussions as to why (and who) 18 MPs didnt vote for Merz and how an agreement can be made.
At last another interesting fact: In Sept. 1930 was the next election and the NSDAP got 18% of votes. Current polls put the Afd at 25%.
Make of that what you wish.
For the first time in post WWII history a coalition agreement to elect a chancellor failed to reach its goal. In todays free, fair (including secrecy of each individual vote) election in the Bundestag the CDU/SPD coalition missed its goal of 316/630 votes to elect Friedrich Merz as chancellor by a margin of 6 votes with 310 votes total. The coalition had a majority of 328 votes, indicating that 18 MPs of CDU/SPD did NOT vote for Merz.
Quote:Basic Law for the Federal Republic of GermanyNote to (4): In this election the majority of the MPs ATTENDING is sufficient, a majority of ALL MPs is not needed!
Article 63
(1) The Federal Chancellor shall be elected by the Bundestag without debate on the proposal of the Federal President.
(2) The person who receives the votes of the majority of the members of the Bundestag shall be elected. The elected person shall be appointed by the Federal President.
(3) If the nominee is not elected, the Bundestag may elect a Federal Chancellor within fourteen days of the election by more than half of its members.
(4) If an election is not held within this period, a new ballot shall be held immediately, in which the person receiving the most votes shall be elected. If the person elected receives the votes of a majority of the members of the Bundestag, the Federal President must appoint him or her within seven days of the election. If the person elected does not receive this majority, the Federal President must, within seven days, either appoint him or her or dissolve the Bundestag.
We are at a point now, somewhere in March 1930 (May, ok, still history rhymes), when Präsidialkabinette started after the last grand coalition of SPD Chancellor Müller failed (history rhymes...). Weimar showed its weakness in dealing with the inability to reach compromise in order to get a functioning government. Weimar resorted to the mentioned Präsidialkabinette by (ab)using Article 48. Post-war Germany now is at a point where rubber has to hit the road: Are we better than that?
We dont have Article 48. According to the Basic Law the President has to dissolve the Bundestag (and call for new elections? Does he have a choice here? I have to look it up) or appoint a chancellor with a minority vote.
Now, this is all to happen, if no agreement can be made. I am confident the CD/SPD are having internal discussions as to why (and who) 18 MPs didnt vote for Merz and how an agreement can be made.
At last another interesting fact: In Sept. 1930 was the next election and the NSDAP got 18% of votes. Current polls put the Afd at 25%.
Make of that what you wish.
Cetero censeo religionem delendam esse
