Olaf Scholz faces no confidence vote as Germany schedules early elections
A majority of Bundestag members supported a motion of no confidence against Olaf Scholz's government.
Germany’s Chancellor personally brought the issue before Parliament after his coalition collapsed. Early elections in Germany are set for February 23, as reported by the BBC.
Germany’s President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, must decide within 21 days whether to dissolve the Bundestag. Previously, he stated that "the country needs a stable majority and a functioning government," making it likely that Steinmeier will dissolve the Bundestag.
Germany’s Constitution does not permit the Bundestag to dissolve itself. Therefore, the only way to trigger early elections is through a vote of no confidence in the government.
Germany’s political crisis comes at a challenging time for the European Union, as France has also entered a period of political instability. This is unfolding against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and a change in administration in the United States.
After the United States, Germany is the second-largest provider of military and financial support to Ukraine. However, Kyiv has been unable to secure long-range Taurus missiles from the Social Democratic chancellor to target legitimate military sites deeper within Russia.
The latest opinion polls indicate that the Christian Democratic opposition currently leads with 33% of voting intentions, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The Greens and Social Democrats, who remain in government, rank next, while the Liberals—responsible for triggering the current governmental crisis—may fail to secure seats in the next Parliament.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
