German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday, paving the way for snap elections in February intended to lead his country out of a political crisis triggered by the collapse of his coalition.
Under the terms of the German constitution, Scholz will now ask Wolfgang Steinmeier, the country’s president, to dissolve parliament. Steinmeier has until January 6 to decide and then set a date for elections to take place within 60 days.
The largest parties and the president have already decided that February 23 will probably be the date chosen.
The prospect of early elections—the next general elections were due to take place in September 2025—will add to the uncertainty now gripping Germany.
The economy of a country that has long-been the continent’s powerhouse has started to splutter.
Intertwined with this is the growth of the populist far-right in the guise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has surged in popularity this year and can now challenge the political establishment. Adding to German woes is agonizing over the extent of support for Ukraine, which has deepened the political and social divides in the country.
Scholz called the confidence vote on November 6 following the demise of the country’s three-party coalition consisting of Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats (SDP), the Greens and free-market Free Democrats (FDP).
Although the trigger was the sacking of Christian Lindner, the finance minister from the FDP, the three parties had clashed over economic policy.
The debate preceding Monday’s vote opened serious campaigning for the upcoming election, with party leaders trading ill-tempered barbs.
The chancellor and his conservative challenger Friedrich Merz, who surveys suggest is likely to replace him, charged each other with incompetence and lack of vision.
The largest parties and the president have already decided that February 23 will probably be the date chosen.
The prospect of early elections—the next general elections were due to take place in September 2025—will add to the uncertainty now gripping Germany.
The economy of a country that has long-been the continent’s powerhouse has started to splutter.
Intertwined with this is the growth of the populist far-right in the guise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has surged in popularity this year and can now challenge the political establishment. Adding to German woes is agonizing over the extent of support for Ukraine, which has deepened the political and social divides in the country.
Scholz called the confidence vote on November 6 following the demise of the country’s three-party coalition consisting of Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats (SDP), the Greens and free-market Free Democrats (FDP).
Although the trigger was the sacking of Christian Lindner, the finance minister from the FDP, the three parties had clashed over economic policy.
The debate preceding Monday’s vote opened serious campaigning for the upcoming election, with party leaders trading ill-tempered barbs.
The chancellor and his conservative challenger Friedrich Merz, who surveys suggest is likely to replace him, charged each other with incompetence and lack of vision.
Conservatives in the lead
The conservatives have a comfortable, albeit narrowing lead of more than 10 points over the SPD in most polls. The far-right AfD is slightly ahead of Scholz's party, while the Greens are in fourth place.
The mainstream parties have refused to govern with the AfD, but its presence complicates the parliamentary arithmetic, making unwieldy coalitions more likely.
Scholz has outlined a list of measures that could pass with opposition support before the election.
The conservatives have hinted they could back moves to better protect the Constitutional Court from the machinations of a future populist or anti-democratic government.
The mainstream parties have refused to govern with the AfD, but its presence complicates the parliamentary arithmetic, making unwieldy coalitions more likely.
Scholz has outlined a list of measures that could pass with opposition support before the election.
The conservatives have hinted they could back moves to better protect the Constitutional Court from the machinations of a future populist or anti-democratic government.
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