section_path: Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949–present)/Election/Constructive vote of no confidence
section_name: Constructive vote of no confidence
paragraph_text: Constructive vote of no confidence
  
  Another possibility to vote a new chancellor into office is the constructive vote of no confidence, which allows the Bundestag to replace a sitting chancellor, if it elects a new chancellor with the "chancellor-majority" (see "Confidence", below).
  
  As of 2025, 26 chancellor elections have taken place in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany; 24 of these were regular chancellor elections and two were constructive votes of no confidence. Of the 24 regular elections, 23 were successful in the first election phase; only the election of Friedrich Merz in 2025 went into the second phase. Of the two constructive votes of no confidence, one was successful (Helmut Kohl against Helmut Schmidt in 1982), while one failed (Rainer Barzel against Willy Brandt in 1972).