German government calls early elections amid confidence crisis
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag on Friday and called for early parliamentary elections on February 23, 2025. This decision came at the request of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose minority government failed to secure a vote of confidence on December 16.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag on Friday. - Especially in such difficult times like these, a government capable of taking decisive action and a credible majority in parliament is needed - Steinmeier stated in Berlin, explaining his decision.
He called for early parliamentary elections on February 23, 2025.
German media are referring to this as a "historic moment".
Bundestag did not grant Scholz a vote of confidence
On December 16, the Bundestag refused to grant a vote of confidence to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This decision by the parliament, which aligned with the intentions of the head of the government, paved the way for early elections.
In a nominal vote, 349 deputies rejected the request for a vote of confidence, with 207 supporting the chancellor and 116 abstaining. Scholz subsequently announced that he would immediately ask German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve the Bundestag. The head of state had until January 6 to make his decision.
Steinmeier had already indicated his readiness to end the parliamentary term early. The accelerated elections are set to be held seven months earlier than originally planned.
The governing coalition led by Scholz, consisting of the SPD, Greens, and FDP, lost its majority following the resignation of Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the FDP in November. The coalition had been in power since December 2021.
Source: PAP, Wirtualna Polska
