Bundestag passes no-confidence motion against Scholz: when are early elections to be held in Germany

On December 16, the Bundestag voted a vote of no confidence in the German government headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which was a necessary step towards early elections. The dissolution of the current government was supported by 394 MPs.

Another 207 supported the chancellor in a roll call vote, while 116 abstained, German media reported. Scholz personally raised this issue before the parliament after his three-party coalition collapsed.

This happened on November 6, when the chancellor fired the finance minister over a discussion on how to revive Germany's stagnant economy.

Now, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier must decide whether to dissolve the parliament and call elections.

He has 21 days to make this decision. Earlier, he said that Germany "needs a stable majority and a government that can act," so most likely the president will dissolve the Bundestag.

The current government will continue its work until the early parliamentary elections, which are expected to take place on February 23, 2025.

The vote of no confidence in Scholz was also supported by representatives of the largest opposition coalition, the CDU/CSU, as well as the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which left Scholz's coalition.

Representatives of the Left Party, the populist Sarah Wagenknecht Union (FDP), and Alternative for Germany also expressed their distrust of Scholz.

Scholz had to lose the Bundestag's vote of confidence so that early parliamentary elections could be held in the country.

As you know, the German Constitution after World War II does not allow the Bundestag to dissolve itself.

The vote of confidence would be valid if at least 367 MPs supported it.

According to polls, the CDU/CSU, headed by Friedrich Merz, has the most support in the early elections. It is supported by more than 30% of voters.

It is second to the far-right Alternative for Germany with about 20% support.

The Social Democrats, represented by Scholz, have about 17% of the vote, according to opinion polls.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz expressed his readiness to transfer long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. However, first, he said, a warning should be issued to Moscow demanding that it stop striking civilian targets.

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