The Guardian view on Germany’s political uncertainty: Merz must recover from this rocky start | Editorial

The initial failure of coalition members to back the new chancellor in sufficient numbers was a bad beginning at a treacherous moment for the nation

The election of Friedrich Merz as chancellor by German legislators on Tuesday morning was meant to end months of political instability, since the collapse of OlafScholz's government half a year ago - itself the result of bitter infighting at the top. Many fear that this could be the last chance to keep out the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD). But the humiliatingresult of the first ballot - in which MrMerzbecame the first chancellor designate to fail tosecure the majority needed in the Bundestag since the secondworld war - was a bad beginning.

It was supposed to be a straightforward confirmation; instead, he was hobbled by rebels fromhis own coalition. Only 310 of its 328legislators backed him, short of the 316 required. He was approvedby 325 in a hastily scheduled secondvote, hours later.