Friedrich Merts Sworn in as Chancellor – First Cabinet Meeting Tonight

Friedrich Merts was sworn in late Tuesday afternoon (May 6, 2025) as the tenth Chancellor of the Federal Republic and will lead Germany’s governing coalition between the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Following the swearing-in of his cabinet members, Merts will proceed to the chancellery for a handover ceremony with outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The first meeting of Germany’s cabinet is scheduled for 23:00 (Greek time). According to the program, Mr. Merts will visit Paris tomorrow and then Warsaw. Despite initial setbacks, he secured 325 votes against 289 with one abstention. This political thriller took many by surprise as Merts failed to secure the required majority of 316 out of 630 in the first vote. In that round, 310 voted in favor (the CDU/CSU-SPD coalition has 328 MPs), 307 against, with three abstentions and one invalid vote. Eighteen MPs from the government camp did not vote for Friedrich Merts, delivering a significant blow to both him and the administration. German media noted this event as unprecedented in the history of the federal republic.