Merz wins narrow chancellorship in Germany's dramatic vote
Friedrich Merz has inherited a fragile alliance and a nation bracing for economic and geopolitical upheaval.
Newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attends a handover ceremony at the Chancellery in Berlin on May 6, 2025. Picture: Odd Andersen / AFP
Germany's conservative leader Friedrich Merz won a nail-biting second parliamentary vote Tuesday to become chancellor after he lost the first round in a stunning early setback.
Merz, 69, scored an absolute majority of 325 to 289 in the second secret vote in the lower house of parliament to become the new leader of Europe's biggest economy.
Unexpected setback
Merz's win was bittersweet as the initial defeat — the first such outcome in Germany's post-war history — pointed to rumblings of discontent within his uneasy coalition.
A Bild daily headline called the outcome 'the Happy End after the Betrayal'.
Merz takes over at the helm of a coalition between his CDU/CSU alliance and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) of outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier appointed Merz as post-war Germany's 10th chancellor before the new premier's expected visit to Paris and then Warsaw on Wednesday.
'With a slight delay, but all the more heartfelt, my congratulations on your election,' Steinmeier told Merz at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin. 'I wish you every success in what lies ahead.'
ALSO READ: Tesla sales fall again in Germany as drivers steer clear of Musk
Merz later said: 'I accept this responsibility with humility but also with determination and confidence. It is good that Germany now has a federal government with a parliamentary majority again.
'We are a coalition from the centre of the political spectrum of our country and I am very confident that we will be able to solve the problems of our country.'
'Power vacuum over'
Merz's bumpy victory caps a long ambition to lead Germany, which was first foiled decades ago by party rival Angela Merkel who went on to serve as chancellor for 16 years.
Nonetheless, his eventual triumph means that 'the six-month power vacuum at the heart of Europe is over,' wrote analyst Holger Schmieding of Berenberg Bank.
Schmieding said that Merz's initial setback 'suggests that he cannot rely on full support from the two parties backing his coalition… That will sow some doubts about his ability to pursue the policy agenda.'
But, 'despite today's temporary upset,' he added, 'Merz has a proven ability to recover from temporary setbacks. For example, it had taken him three attempts to become head of his CDU party -– but he still made it in the end.'
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) especially cheered the initial vote against Merz, who has vowed to restore stability in Berlin after six months of political turmoil since Scholz's government collapsed in November.
ALSO READ: Mozambique's leaders talk peace after election protests turn deadly
'Merz should step aside and the way should be cleared for a general election,' AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said, calling the first-round result a 'good day for Germany'.
Merz has also vowed a crackdown on irregular migration, in part to reduce the appeal of the AfD, which was last week designated a 'right-wing extremist' party by Germany's domestic spy service.
The first secret vote was expected to be a formality but turned to disaster for Merz when he fell short by six votes of the the required absolute majority to seal his job.
The setback stunned Germany and set off frantic crisis meetings in the Bundestag, where many feared the start of a new political crisis.
Eyes on Europe, ears on Trump
Merz has long promised to revive Germany's ailing economy and strengthen Berlin's role in Europe as it responds to the rapid change since US President Donald Trump returned to power.
Trump has heaped pressure on European allies, complaining they spend too little on NATO and imposing tariffs that are especially painful to export power Germany.
CDU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn had emphasised the urgency of a new government taking office, given the economic and geopolitical turbulence.
'The whole of Europe, perhaps even the whole world, is watching this second round of voting,' Spahn said before the second attempt, urging MPs to 'be aware of this special responsibility'.
'Profound upheaval'
Merz, who boasts a strong business background but has never held a government leadership post, said on Monday: 'We live in times of profound change, of profound upheaval… and of great uncertainty.
'And that is why we know that it is our historic obligation to lead this coalition to success.'
Capital Economics analyst Franziska Palmas argued however that the initial setback 'does leave Merz severely weakened and suggests that hopes for more stability in German politics may be disappointed'.
NOW READ: Electing an African Pope to lead the Catholic Church would be a historic move, says expert
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Free at last: Real Madrid sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool
Free at last Spanish giants Real Madrid have announced the signing of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Premier League side Liverpool. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP Image: Paul Ellis/AFP Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday. The 26-year-old England international's contract at Anfield was drawing to an end but Madrid paid a fee to bring him in earlier so he can play in the FIFA Club World Cup. Right-back Alexander-Arnold, who has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, came through the academy of his boyhood club and won the Champions League in 2019. He also won the Premier League in 2020 and 352 appearances for the club. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The defender joins former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with the Spaniard appointed as their new coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti. Alexander-Arnold's close connections to Liverpool meant that his announcement that he was leaving the club was viewed with disgust by some supporters and he was booed in the penultimate match of the season. But after club figures including former manager Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah urged fans to remember the contribution he has made to Liverpool's success over the last six years, he was roundly cheered when he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday. The defender joins a Real Madrid side which failed to win a major trophy this season. Alexander-Arnold has been criticised for his defensive concentration at times but brings supreme passing vision and attacking edge down the right flank. Real Madrid have struggled at right-back this season with Dani Carvajal recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time there out of position. Alexander-Arnold could make his Real Madrid debut when they face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup match on June 18 in Miami. Real Madrid have also signed Spanish centre-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as they look to bolster a back-line which was ravaged by injury this season. AFP
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Starlink in South Africa: A lifeline or a Trojan Horse
Understanding Starlink: Costs and controversies in South Africa. Image: Reuters As South Africa contemplates relaxing Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) regulations to enable Elon Musk's Starlink to operate within its borders, a fierce national conversation must begin not about internet speeds, but about sovereignty, trust, and transformation. On the surface, Starlink is everything this country has been waiting for: a space-age solution to a deeply terrestrial problem. In a country where only 10–15% of rural households have stable internet and where countless schools, clinics and police stations still struggle with basic connectivity, the promise of fast, reliable satellite broadband sounds like nothing short of a miracle. But South Africa has been down this road before. Too often, technological 'solutions' have arrived draped in global capital, wrapped in good intentions, and laced with fine print that erodes local agency. And this time, it comes delivered by Elon Musk, a billionaire with a South African birth certificate but a political track record that suggests deep contempt for this country's values, institutions, and transformation agenda. Elon Musk has previously claimed Starlink was barred from operating in South Africa because he is not Black, an allegation South African officials refuted. Image: AFP Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Economic Implications: Bridging the Digital Divide By providing high-speed internet access, Starlink could spur educational opportunities, healthcare delivery, and economic development in regions currently lacking robust infrastructure. However, concerns persist regarding the affordability of Starlink's services for low-income households. The cost of equipment and subscriptions, currently upwards of R10,000 for the initial setup and about R1,000 per month, may remain prohibitive, thereby limiting the service's reach to those who might benefit most. Moreover, the impact on existing internet service providers and the broader telecommunications market dynamics warrants careful consideration to avoid unintended economic disruptions. Rural Connectivity in Numbers: What the Data Says According to recent Icasa and Stats SA data, only 1 in 10 rural households in South Africa have access to stable broadband internet. In provinces like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, connectivity levels fall far below even that, creating a chasm between urban and rural access to information and services. Schools and educational institutions in these areas face immense challenges, and teachers often lack digital resources, and learners cannot access online learning platforms. Police stations, clinics, and municipal offices in rural communities frequently struggle with outdated or unreliable internet, hampering everything from filing crime reports to accessing national health databases. If made accessible through government partnerships or subsidisation, Starlink could potentially revolutionise service delivery in these critical sectors. Reliable internet could enable: E-learning platforms, including access to online textbooks, Zoom classes, and coding workshops. Real-time data sharing and crime monitoring for police stations. Telemedicine services in rural clinics. The Infrastructure We Desperately Need South Africa needs a Starlink-like technology. Urgently. The digital divide is a national emergency. In many rural communities, schoolchildren are still being taught without internet access, educators are cut off from digital training resources, and police stations file paperwork by hand. For millions, reliable internet is not just a tool; it's the key to upward mobility, access to education, government services, employment and entrepreneurship. Fibre rollout has been uneven and slow, hampered by budget constraints, corruption, and poor planning. For many municipalities, it simply isn't coming. Starlink bypasses this bottleneck completely. Its satellite network can beam high-speed internet to anywhere in the country, virtually overnight. Its potential to transform rural economies, unlock innovation, and bridge geographic isolation is immense. If implemented responsibly, Starlink could become the backbone of South Africa's digital future. But there is a catch. And it's not a small one. Elon Musk: A Troubling Messenger for a Promising Message This isn't just about technology. It's about who controls it, what values they bring, and how they wield influence when they disagree with a sovereign state. Musk has made no secret of his disdain for South Africa's transformation policies. He has repeatedly called BEE 'racist', falsely implied that South Africa persecutes minorities, and re-platformed extremists on X (formerly Twitter) who push the debunked narrative of 'white genocide' in South Africa. He has also used his AI chatbot, Grok, to propagate misleading information about the country's crime, land reform, and race relations, often to an international audience unfamiliar with South Africa's nuanced, post-apartheid reality. In short, Musk has demonstrated he is not simply a tech CEO; he is a right-wing and racist political actor with a clear ideological agenda, one that aligns disturbingly well with global far-right narratives. The same man seeking control over vast swathes of South Africa's internet infrastructure is the man publicly undermining its constitutional efforts to redress historical inequality. Can Starlink Be a Trojan Horse? We must then consider a chilling possibility: what if Starlink is not just a communications tool but a potential ideological delivery mechanism? Because Starlink operates independently of local ISPs and existing telecom frameworks, it creates a 'grey zone' where South African regulatory oversight may be severely limited. Suppose Starlink users connect directly to satellites, bypassing local data routing. In that case, it becomes exponentially harder for Icasa or the Department of Communications to monitor or enforce content compliance, cybersecurity laws, or data protection standards. There is a real risk that Starlink's user interfaces could favour Musk-owned platforms, including X and Grok, by default, particularly in rural or first-time internet environments. In such areas, where people have never encountered the internet before, what they first encounter shapes their worldview. If their first exposure to global information comes filtered through Musk's ideological lens, South Africa may find itself nurturing a digitally colonised generation, raised on disinformation, anti-BEE sentiment, and narratives hostile to democracy and inclusion. Musk's history of publicly antagonising states, suggests that he does not hesitate to politicise access and operations. The infrastructure we welcome in a crisis could become a tool for coercion down the line. Desperation Must Not Lead to Dependency South Africa is not naïve. We know what foreign capital can do when left unchecked. We've seen the headlines about tech giants hoarding data, undermining labour rights, and lobbying against taxation and transformation. Yet we are also a country of immense potential, home to some of the most entrepreneurial, resilient, and digitally fluent young people on the continent. We deserve the best infrastructure the world can offer, but on our terms. Letting Starlink in without robust, transparent, and enforceable conditions would be an act of desperation masquerading as progress. It would open the floodgates for a private surveillance satellite network managed by a man who has shown hostility toward our democracy, contempt for our redress laws, and a worrying willingness to deploy his platforms in the service of racial disinformation. We Need the Technology, But Not the Ideology Here's the bottom line: South Africa needs what Starlink does. But we do not need what Musk represents. If Starlink wants to operate in South Africa, it must commit formally, contractually, and transparently to: Respecting BEE or offering clear, independently monitored equity equivalence programmes. Routing local traffic locally, with compliance with data protection laws. Maintaining strict neutrality in content prioritisation, with no bias toward X or Grok Submitting to regulatory oversight and policy compliance, like every other communications provider This is not a technophobic stance. It is a constitutionally grounded, economically rational one. We should welcome the infrastructure, but not on bended knee. Digital Inclusion Beyond Starlink: The Broader Blueprint While Starlink presents a high-tech, fast-paced solution, it cannot be the sole pillar of South Africa's digital inclusion strategy. More community-orientated, cost-effective models have shown promise and should be scaled up. Some alternatives include: TV White Space technology: Leveraging unused broadcasting frequencies to deliver broadband to remote areas at lower costs. Municipal broadband initiatives: Cities like Tshwane have experimented with free public Wi-Fi zones. A national roll-out of such models could bridge urban-rural divides. -Zero-rated data services: The success of zero-rated educational platforms like Siyavula and university portals during Covid-19 lockdowns shows how mobile networks can support learning and service delivery. Public-private infrastructure sharing: Local ISPs, in collaboration with the government and telecom giants, can pool resources to extend fibre-optic networks incrementally. Community mesh networks: Examples in Kenya and India show how decentralised, community-owned networks can operate at minimal costs with local buy-in and employment. These models foreground inclusivity, localisation and sustainability, important considerations if digital equity, and not just digital expansion, is the ultimate goal. Nco Dube a political economist, businessman, and social commentator. Image: Supplied
Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
UN blasts new US-backed aid distribution system in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories - The UN on Wednesday condemned a US-backed aid system in Gaza after 47 people were injured during a chaotic food distribution, where the Israeli military said it did not open fire at crowds. The issue of aid has come sharply into focus amid a hunger crisis coupled with intense criticism of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a shadowy group that has bypassed the longstanding UN-led system in the territory. According to the UN, 47 people were injured in the mayhem that erupted on Tuesday when thousands of Palestinians desperate for food rushed into a GHF aid distribution site, while a Palestinian medical source said at least one had died. Ajith Sunghay, the head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territories, said most of the wounded had been hurt by gunfire, and based on the information he had, "it was shooting from the IDF" - the Israeli military. The Israeli military rejected the accusation, with Colonel Olivier Rafowicz telling AFP that Israeli soldiers "fired warning shots into the air, in the area outside" the centre managed by the GHF, and "in no case towards the people." With the war sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel entering its 600th day on Wednesday, Palestinians in Gaza felt there was no reason to hope for a better future. In Israel, the relatives of people held hostage in Gaza since the 7 October attack longed for the return of their loved ones, with hundreds gathering in their name in Tel Aviv. "Six hundred days have passed and nothing has changed. Death continues, and Israeli bombing does not stop," said Bassam Daloul, 40, adding that "even hoping for a ceasefire feels like a dream and a nightmare." 'WASTE OF RESOURCES' The UN has repeatedly hit out against the GHF, which faces accusations of failing to fulfil the principles of humanitarian work, and Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, on Wednesday reiterated the criticism. "I believe it is a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities. We already have an aid distribution system that is fit for purpose," he said during a visit in Japan. In Gaza, the civil defence agency said Israeli air strikes killed 16 people since dawn Wednesday. Heba Jabr, 29, who sleeps in a tent in southern Gaza with her husband and their two children, was struggling to find food. "Dying by bombing is much better than dying from the humiliation of hunger and being unable to provide bread and water for your children", she told AFP. Israel imposed a full blockade on Gaza for over two months, before allowing supplies in at a trickle last week. A medical source in southern Gaza told AFP that after Tuesday's stampede at the GHF site "more than 40 injured people arrived at Nasser Hospital, the majority of them wounded by Israeli gunfire", adding that at least one had died since. The source added that "a number of other civilians also arrived at the hospital with various bruises". HOSTAGE FAMILIES' ANGUISH On Tuesday, the GHF said around "8,000 food boxes have been distributed so far... totalling 462,000 meals". UN agencies and aid groups have argued that the GHF's designation of so-called secure distribution sites contravenes the principle of humanity because it would force already displaced people to move again in order to stay alive. Israel stepped up its military offensive in Gaza earlier this month, while mediators push for a ceasefire that remains elusive. In Israel, hundreds of people gathered to call for a ceasefire that would allow for the release of hostages held by militants in Gaza since their 2023 attack. Protesters gathered along the country's roads and on the main highway running through the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv at 6:29 am, the exact time the unprecedented 7 October attack began. Most Israeli media headlines read "600 days", and focused on the hostage families' struggle to get their relatives home. Other events were planned across Israel to make the 600th day of captivity for the 57 remaining hostages still in Gaza. Some 1,218 people were killed in Hamas' 7 October, 2023, attack, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Wednesday that at least 3,924 people had been killed in the territory since Israel ended a ceasefire on 18 March, taking the war's overall toll to 54,084, mostly civilians.
