German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament on Monday, securing only 207 votes, falling short of the 367 needed for a majority, setting the stage for an early election on February 23, AP News reports.
Scholz’s three-party coalition collapsed in November over disagreements on economic policies. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier now has 21 days to decide whether to dissolve parliament and call for elections. The election, expected on February 23, will be held within 60 days after the dissolution.
Scholz urged investment in Germany’s future, including plans to modernize debt rules, raise the national minimum wage, and reduce food taxes. Meanwhile, opposition leader Friedrich Merz criticizes Scholz for mishandling Germany’s economic challenges. Scholz also emphasized support for Ukraine but ruled out supplying long-range Taurus missiles or deploying troops to avoid escalating the conflict with Russia.
Polls show Scholz’s Social Democrats trailing Merz’s Union bloc. The Greens and the far-right Alternative for Germany are also vying for influence but face challenges in forming stable coalitions.
