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Germany, no confidence in Scholz government: early elections set for 23 February

No-confidence vote in the Bundestag paves the way for calling early general elections, with the chancellor calling for the dissolution of parliament

Today, as expected, the Bundestag voted no confidence in the minority government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, paving the way for early general elections in Germany, set for 23 February. In his speech in the chamber, Scholz had already made clear his intention to call early elections, stressing the need for new investments to stimulate economic growth, support Ukraine against the Russian invasion and strengthen the German army.

‘We need more economic growth,’ said the chancellor, who also recalled how no voter had foreseen the unprecedented challenges of the past three years. Scholz pointed out that this is the sixth time in the post-war period that a chancellor has called for a vote of confidence, and the fifth chancellor to do so, following Gerhard Schroeder, who had used this measure twice during his term.

Today’s vote saw 394 MPs voting against the government, 207 in favour and 116 abstaining. With the result now a foregone conclusion, Scholz will ask German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve parliament and call new elections, some seven months ahead of the natural end of his term.

The no-confidence vote comes after the fall of the tripartite coalition, consisting of the SPD, Greens and FPD, which had supported Scholz’s government since 2021. The political crisis began last month with the FPD Liberals’ exit from the coalition, following the dismissal of FPD finance minister Christian Lindner.

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