Germany’s Scholz Loses Confidence Vote; Early Election Set For February

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost a confidence vote in the German parliament, setting the stage for an early election in February, Geir Moulson reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Scholz came up far short of the 367 votes required for a majority. I Photo: Frank Rumpenhorst, Deutsche Bundesbank Flickr

Scholz received support from 207 lawmakers in the 733-seat lower house, or Bundestag, while 394 voted against him, and 116 abstained. This left him far short of the 367 votes required for a majority.

Scholz has been leading a minority government since Nov. 6, when his three-party coalition collapsed following his decision to dismiss the finance minister in a dispute over how to revive Germany’s stagnant economy.

The coalition's collapse has fueled political uncertainty in Europe’s largest economy.

Leaders of several major political parties agreed to hold a parliamentary election on Feb. 23, seven months earlier than originally scheduled. Under Germany’s post-World War II constitution, the Bundestag cannot dissolve itself, so a confidence vote was necessary.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier must now decide whether to formally dissolve parliament and call for the election.

He has 21 days to make this decision and is expected to act after Christmas to align with the planned election date. Once parliament is dissolved, the election must be held within 60 days.