Germany’s Scholz Eyes December 16 Confidence Vote, Paving the Way for Election as Soon as February

BERLIN — Chancellor Scholz is expected to ask for a vote of confidence in his government on December 16, paving the way for a new parliamentary election as early as February, German press reported Tuesday.The expected vote in the Bundestag would come well ahead of original plans, marking a step to reach compromise between Mr. Scholz’s party, the Social Democrats, and the main opposition party in parliament, the center-right Christian conservatives.The move comes after the collapse of Mr. Scholz’s three-party coalition last week.Mr. Scholz had previously announced that he would seek a vote of confidence on January 15 that could lead to an election as soon as March. The vote had otherwise been due next September.On Tuesday, Mr. Scholz told public broadcaster ARD that it was “no problem” for him to call for the confidence vote before Christmas, and that he would respect any agreement by his fellow Socialists and the Christian Democrats.A final decision on the exact date for the election — possibly February 16 or February 23 — would rest with Germany’s president, Franz-Walter Steinmeier.Mr. Scholz announced that he would lead Germany with a minority government after his move last week to fire Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats, ending the party’s role in the coalition.Left with the environmentalist Greens in his coalition, Mr. Scholz expressed hope to win support of the Christian Democrats, led by Friedrich Merz, to pass important legislation and plug the billion-euro hole in the 2025 budget.Mr. Merz vehemently rejected Mr. Scholz’s initial plan to wait until January to hold the confidence vote. If the government doesn’t win the vote of confidence, which has seemed increasingly likely, Mr. Steinmeier can dissolve the Bundestag within 21 days and call a new election.

Germany’s Scholz Eyes December 16 Confidence Vote, Paving the Way for Election as Soon as February

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