German lawmakers will vote again on May 6 on the candidacy of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz for chancellor. Earlier on 6 May, Merz failed to win the necessary votes in the first round, AFP reported. 

The conservative leader had expected to win a majority of the 630 lawmakers, but received the support of only 310 of them, while 307 voted against. Three MPs abstained, one vote was invalid and nine MPs were absent.

The CDU's Social Democratic Party (SPD) coalition partners said the vote would go ahead, and Jens Spahn, the CDU's parliamentary leader, confirmed to reporters, "We will be able to go ahead with the second round today at 15:15 (local time)." 

One of the leaders of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil, also said he assumed that "there will now be the necessary majority" to confirm Merz in office. | BGNES