Chancellor Scholz loses confidence vote, paving way for early German elections

Chancellor Olaf Scholz failed to secure a vote of confidence in the German parliament on December 16, setting the stage for an early election in late February, which will affect the European Union’s largest economy and most populous country.

Scholz garnered the support of 207 lawmakers in the 733-seat Bundestag, while 394 voted against him and 116 abstained, falling well short of the 367 votes needed for a majority, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Scholz is currently leading a minority government after his three-party coalition, which had been fraught with tension, collapsed on November 6 following a dispute over economic revitalization that led to the dismissal of his finance minister. Following the collapse, leaders from several major political parties agreed to hold a parliamentary election on February 23, seven months earlier than originally scheduled.

The confidence vote was necessary due to the post-World War II German constitution, which prohibits the Bundestag from dissolving itself. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier now has 21 days to decide whether to dissolve parliament and call for an election. Given the planned election date, it is expected that the president will make this decision after Christmas. Once the Bundestag is dissolved, the election must take place within 60 days.

By Vafa Guliyeva