German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag on Friday and scheduled early parliamentary elections for February 23, 2025.
President German he thus acceded to the motion of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose minority government did not receive a vote of confidence on December 16. In difficult times, stability requires a government capable of acting and a credible majority in parliament, Steinmeier said in Berlin, explaining his decision.
The Bundestag meeting room. Illustrative photo Werner Spremberg/Shutterstock
Collapse of the coalition
The reason was the removal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the Free Democratic Party (FDP) from the government. The difference of opinion between the SPD and the Greens and the FDP regarding the height contributed to this budget deficit and methods of financing it.
The FDP's departure from the coalition led to the government losing its majority. Initially, Scholz intended to wait with the confidence motion until next year, but opposition opposition prompted him to act faster.
Main photo source: Werner Spremberg/Shutterstock