Germany’s Political Earthquake: CDU’s Merz Rejected by Bundestag, AfD Poised for Power Shift
In a shocking rebuke of establishment politics, Friedrich Merz—leader of Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU)—has failed to secure enough votes in the Bundestag to become Chancellor, triggering a political crisis and opening the door for the populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to demand new elections.
Merz received just 310 votes in Monday’s secret ballot, falling six short of the 316 needed for an absolute majority, despite his coalition with the weakened Social Democratic Party (SPD) holding 328 seats. This marks the first time in postwar German history that a chancellorship candidate failed in the first vote following coalition talks—a development that signals deep fractures within Germany’s ruling elite.
AfD Declares Victory for the People
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel called the vote a turning point.
“Merz is the first chancellor candidate of the Federal Republic of Germany to fail in the first round of voting. This clearly shows how weak and unstable the CDU-SPD pact really is—a pact already rejected by the people at the ballot box,” she declared.
Weidel demanded Merz resign immediately and called for snap elections, stating:
“The old parties have failed. It’s time for a government that puts Germany first.”
The AfD, which has steadily risen in national polls due to its stance on immigration, energy sovereignty, and economic reform, celebrated openly inside the Bundestag chamber. With current polling showing the AfD now eclipsing the CDU in popularity, the failed vote serves as a symbolic victory for a movement long maligned by the political mainstream.
The End of the “Firewall” Doctrine?
Merz’s defeat is a fatal blow to the CDU’s decades-long “firewall” strategy—refusing any cooperation with the AfD, even as voter sentiment shifts dramatically. Rather than recalibrating policies to address the real concerns of voters, Merz chose to form what critics call a “zombie coalition” with the flailing SPD to freeze out the AfD.
That strategy has now backfired spectacularly.
“Germany cannot be governed on this basis. The Conservatives must now talk to the AfD — at least to exert pressure,” said political commentator Ben Brechtken on X.
Chaos Inside the Bundestag
The vote sent shockwaves through the Bundestag. According to Bild, CDU lawmakers appeared visibly stunned. Some pushed for an immediate second vote, while others feared compounding the humiliation. Merz, notably absent from public view after the defeat, has yet to issue a formal statement.
Journalist Hans-Ulrich Jörges told Welt TV, “Merz is deeply shocked and sitting in a chair somewhere,” underscoring the panic setting in among Germany’s political elite.
What’s Next: Snap Election or New Vote?
Under Germany’s constitution, a second vote must occur within 14 days. If no candidate secures an absolute majority again, a third vote can proceed by simple plurality. In that scenario, the president may either confirm the elected candidate or dissolve parliament and trigger a snap election—an outcome AfD supporters are now actively pushing for.
The markets responded swiftly to the instability. Germany’s DAX index dropped 2% by midday, with concerns over leadership paralysis and economic direction mounting.
AfD Poised to Take the Reins
Weidel emphasized her party’s readiness to lead:
“We are prepared to take responsibility. The people have had enough of empty promises and elite self-preservation. It’s time to return power to the citizens.”
As Germany reels from economic stagnation, immigration crises, and energy dependency, public faith in traditional parties continues to erode. The firewall policy that once defined German establishment politics now lies in ruins—its architects silenced by a populist surge they can no longer contain.
The road to the next vote—or possibly a new election—will determine whether Germany continues down a path of political stagnation or embraces a rising nationalist realignment.
Either way, the status quo is dead. And the AfD is ready to lead.
