Dramatic New Twist in German Election
Dramatic New Twist in German Election
Friedrich Merz was supposed to be inaugurated as German chancellor at noon today. He had come first in the election, negotiated a coalition deal, and waited for all parties to sign off on it. The hard parts were over; there was just one formality left: He needed the majority of members of the German parliament to vote him in.
A majority in parliament had pledged their support through the coalition agreement. But ballots in this vote are secret. Some could renege on their party’s agreement—and no one would know who it was.
Merz should have had the support of 328 lawmakers—just above the 316 votes he needed. He only received 310.
Either some members of his coalition failed to vote for him, or some members of his own party did not. This has never happened in the history of Germany’s current constitutional government. It could be a brief blip on the road to Merz’s chancellorship or a serious and lengthy political crisis.
With Merz failing the first vote, Germany quickly moved on to a second round. All parties agreed to hold another vote today. This time, Merz won with 325 votes in support.
“[P]ay close attention to events in Germany,” wrote Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry at the start of the year. “This nation’s future is weak if something doesn’t change. But Bible prophecy forewarns us that Germany is about to shock the world with its power. To accomplish this, it needs a strong leader—something it sorely lacks right now.”
“I believe these recent events will lead to the installation of a strong leader very soon,” he wrote.
He also described the way that this strong leader would come to power:
There is already great urgency for a strong leader. In a crisis, Germany’s elites may decide there is no time to appoint someone democratically—they could step in and select a leader quickly. But this man will hijack the whole alliance, and it will turn out very differently from what a lot of people want it to be.
This is a breaking and unusual story. But based on Bible prophecy, Mr. Flurry has warned for years about this strongman coming to power through some unusual coalition negotiation. “This strong leader is going to come in by flatteries, not by a democratic election,” he wrote in that article.
The tremor in Merz’s appointment shows how unstable and earthquake-prone German politics have become.
All Europe has been enthusiastically waiting for Merz to be the strong German leader they know they’ve needed for years. After today’s drama, he enters office—but wounded. On even the most basic vote—who should be chancellor—he failed to command a majority in parliament. What hope does he have of passing controversial legislation? Why should anyone pledge their loyalty or risk their career for a leader who struggled to make it into office, and risk being booted out of office?
Instead of solving Europe’s leadership crisis, Merz’s inauguration has left it more acute than ever. But as Mr. Flurry wrote, “This strong leader is going to come in by flatteries, not by a democratic election.” Merz’s struggles pave the way for that to happen. Watch for this leader to arrive very soon.
Israel will step up its war in Gaza, officials told media outlets yesterday. Israel will conquer and hold territory in Gaza unless Hamas agrees to a hostage deal by the end of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East next week. Israel’s security cabinet unanimously approved the plan Sunday night, and tens of thousands of reservists are being called up.
Axios called it a “massive ground operation.” Their report claims that Gaza’s entire population would move to a “humanitarian area”—unless they leave Gaza voluntarily.
The plan indicates that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still focused on total victory over Hamas rather than merely compromising with the terrorist group in exchange for hostages. However, polls indicate that most Israelis would rather compromise.
Even ahead of the decision, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak called for a “civil insurrection” to bring about “the shutdown of the country until the government falls.”
Israel Hayom also reported that Mr. Netanyahu is frustrated with President Trump—complaining that he sounds good in public but his actions don’t match his words. It also claimed that Netanyahu is concerned about the removal of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who is generally more hawkish on Iran.
“[T]here are times when threats arise that must be fought against,” wrote Mr. Flurry in our April Trumpet issue. “To negotiate your way to a solution is to make a deal with the devil! … If Israel wants to survive, it must win that war!”
Mr. Netanyahu seems determined to do that—but he’s limited by the fact that, if the polls are accurate, most in Israel lack that resolve. Compromising with evil does not lead to peace. Only God’s Word reveals the way to peace.
Is Canada breaking up? Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the province could hold an independence referendum, and she promised to hold a vote next year.
“These attacks on our province by our federal government have become unbearable,” she said. “That is why a large majority of Albertans are so deeply frustrated with the results of last week’s federal election.”
Smith will chair a panel of experts, who will generate ideas for creating a new relationship with the federal government. The most popular will be put to the vote. If a citizen-led petition on independence receives the requisite number of signatures, it will also be on that ballot.
Things are going badly wrong for Canada as the nation divides among itself and from the United States.
IN OTHER NEWS
Stars are falling: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a 20 percent reduction in four-star admirals and generals in the U.S. military, the highest rank typically given. He also called for a 10 percent reduction in general and flag officers, as he introduced his “less generals more GIs” policy. The U.S. military has struggled with poor leadership for years—so a shake-up is needed. But building better leaders starts in the family; this is just a small step in the right direction.
Romania’s prime minister resigned yesterday in the wake of the far-right victory in the first round of the presidential election. “This coalition is no longer legitimate,” he said. “The next president was going to replace me anyway, that’s what I’ve read.” Romania tried to use the courts to block the far right, annulling an election and arresting the previous victor. It has backfired badly and is causing much more instability. We’re watching the global decline of democracy—particularly in Europe.
Terrorist attack on Britain foiled: British authorities arrested eight Iranians on Saturday, foiling a major terrorist attack, our In Brief reports.
