German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sent a request to parliament on Wednesday to hold a vote of confidence on December 16, setting a path to an early federal election next year after the collapse of his coalition last month.
Policymaking in Europe's biggest economy has largely ground to a halt since Scholz's fractious coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) imploded, leaving him heading a minority government.
If, as expected, Scholz loses the confidence vote, he must then ask the president to dissolve parliament, triggering fresh elections.
Scholz has agreed with the opposition to hold the election on February 23. Polls suggest the opposition conservatives are on track to win the federal election, with a survey on Monday putting them on 31%, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on 18%, Scholz's SPD on 17% and the Greens on 13%.
The FDP and the newly-created Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance are both polling just under the 5% threshold to enter parliament but analysts say voters can shift quickly as they are less loyal than they once were.
If, as expected, Scholz loses the confidence vote, he must then ask the president to dissolve parliament, triggering fresh elections.
Scholz has agreed with the opposition to hold the election on February 23. Polls suggest the opposition conservatives are on track to win the federal election, with a survey on Monday putting them on 31%, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on 18%, Scholz's SPD on 17% and the Greens on 13%.
The FDP and the newly-created Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance are both polling just under the 5% threshold to enter parliament but analysts say voters can shift quickly as they are less loyal than they once were.
Source: Reuters
More In Politics MORE...
