Germany calls early elections as Bundestag dissolves
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag on Friday and called for early parliamentary elections on February 23, 2025. This decision aligns with the request of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose minority government did not receive a vote of confidence on December 16.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag on Friday. "Especially in such difficult times as now, a government capable of acting 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 refer to it 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 parliament, in line 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, while 207 supported the chancellor; 116 abstained. Scholz then 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 signaled his readiness to terminate the parliamentary term early. The accelerated elections are set to be held seven months before the original date.
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; they had been in power since December 2021.
Source: PAP, Wirtualna Polska
