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18.12.2024Germany is heading for early elections after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost a no-confidence vote in parliament, paving the way for its dissolution and fresh national elections on 23 February.
Following the dissolution of Germany’s “traffic light” coalition—comprising the Social Democrats (SPD), Free Democrats (FDP), and Greens—Chancellor Olaf Scholz sought a vote of confidence in the Bundestag. This move was essential to initiate early elections, as the German constitution does not permit the Bundestag’s dissolution without such a procedure.
According to Euronews, on December 16, 2024, Scholz lost the confidence vote, with 207 MPs supporting him, 394 opposing, and 116 abstaining. The no-confidence vote is only the sixth in the country’s post-war history. Consequently, Europe’s largest economy is now on course for early elections, likely to be held in late February.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is now set to decide whether or not to dissolve parliament. Once dissolved, an election must be held within 60 days. The leaders of the main political parties suggested holding parliamentary elections on February 23, seven months ahead of schedule, following the German chancellor’s failure to secure a vote of confidence.
