CAPF AC 2025 Q10: Current Affairs – International Relations & Treaties
Which of the following statements is/are correct about recently elected Chancellor of Germany Mr. Friedrich Merz?
1. He lost in the first round of voting.
2. His coalition includes Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union.
Select the answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation
Friedrich Merz becomes Chancellor
How to think: check each statement against what happened on 6 May 2025.
| Statement | Fact | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 1. He lost in the first round | In the first ballot he got 310 votes, short of the 316 needed; this was the first such failure in postwar Germany | Correct |
| 2. His coalition includes the CDU and CSU | His government is a coalition of CDU/CSU with the SPD | Correct (it includes both, and the SPD) |
In the second ballot, held hours later, Merz won 325 votes and became Chancellor.
Bank key corrected: the stored key was (b); both statements are true, so (c).
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 2 is also true.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 1 is also true: he fell short in the first ballot.
- (c) CORRECT. He missed the majority in round one, and his coalition includes the CDU and CSU.
- (d) Incorrect. Both statements are true.
Key point
Merz: elected Chancellor 6 May 2025; first ballot 310 votes (316 needed), second ballot 325; coalition CDU/CSU with SPD.
Remember
Merz: failed round one (310), won round two (325); CDU/CSU plus SPD.
Common mistakes
- Rejecting statement 2 because the coalition also has the SPD; the statement says only that it includes CDU and CSU.
- Thinking he was elected on the first attempt, as everyone expected.
- Mixing him up with Olaf Scholz, the previous Chancellor.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the question says 'includes', not 'consists only of'. That wording makes statement 2 safe, and the surprise defeat in round one was widely reported.
Sources
- Deutscher Bundestag, Wahl des Bundeskanzlers, 6 May 2025 (results of the first and second ballots)
- Coalition agreement 2025 between CDU, CSU and SPD, 'Verantwortung für Deutschland'