German President Steinmeier has dissolved the Bundestag, the German parliament, and called for new elections early next year. The government of Chancellor Scholz formally fell on December 16.
After Scholz dismissed the FDP’s finance minister in November, other FDP ministers resigned, leaving Scholz with a minority government formed by his SPD party and the Greens. It was then agreed to move up the elections to February 23, seven months earlier than planned.
According to the German constitution, early elections can only be called under strict conditions. Scholz therefore requested a vote of confidence in the Bundestag, and as expected, a majority withdrew their support for the government.
Following the vote, Scholz asked Steinmeier to dissolve parliament and call for elections, which he has now done. “In these challenging times, a decisive government with a reliable majority is needed to ensure stability,” Steinmeier said at a press conference.
He also urged political parties to conduct fair and transparent election campaigns, warning that external interference poses a threat to democracy, whether it occurs secretly, as allegedly happened in Romania’s elections, or openly and blatantly, as is happening on X. Scholz and his ministers will remain in office until a new government is formed.
Source: NOS