Germany Moves Toward Early National Election
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The German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, plans to hold a parliamentary confidence vote by the beginning of July, a move that would mean new elections must be held by September 18.
Mr. Schroeder had yesterday called for early national elections after his party suffered a stinging defeat in a state vote in a traditional stronghold.
Franz Muentefering, Social Democratic chairman, said a confidence vote is planned in the lower house of parliament before the lower house of parliament breaks for its summer recess. Its last scheduled meeting is July 1.
If parliament brings down the chancellor, the president, Horst Koehler, has 21 days to dissolve parliament; after that, new elections must be held within 60 days. That means elections must be held by September 18.
A similar tactic was used by Mr. Schroeder’s predecessor, Helmut Kohl, who forced elections in 1983 by calling a confidence vote in which his own supporters abstained.
