Germany. The Bundestag did not grant a vote of confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz

The final decision to dissolve parliament and call early elections rests with the country's president, Frank Walter Steinmeier. The head of state has until January 6, 2025 to do so. The most likely date is February 23, 2025.

The chancellor justified his motion for a vote of confidence on Monday German he said that his goal was early elections to the Bundestag.

He blamed the coalition partner FDP “sabotage” of government work. He declared that Germany needed investments, including in the Bundeswehr, but not all parties shared this view. – It cannot continue like this – emphasized the politician SPD.

From 2028, Germany will need an additional EUR 30 billion per year for defense. The Chancellor accused the CDU/CSU opposition of wanting to finance the Bundeswehr at the expense of social spending pensions.

Scholz also said in parliament that “Germany provides Ukraine with the greatest aid in Europe.” – I want it to continue like this – he added.

– If Putin defeats Ukrainewe will also find ourselves in permanent danger, he warned. – You can count on Germany. We say what we will do and we do what we promise, he emphasized.

The Chancellor stated that Germany would not do anything that would jeopardize its own security. – Therefore, we will not deliver cruise missiles, which are long-range weapons capable of reaching targets (located) deep in the territory. Russia. We certainly will not send German soldiers to war. Not with me as long as I am chancellor, he declared. As he argued, Germany protects Ukraine's sovereignty and wants the killing to end.

Scholz assessed positively the revival of the Weimar Triangle as an instrument for strengthening Europe. Apart from Germany, other countries also belong to this initiative France and Poland.

Friedrich Merz, the candidate of the CDU/CSU block of Christian parties for chancellor, in the discussion on the vote of confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said that it left “the country mired in the greatest economic crisis in post-war history.”

He emphasized that Germany was in recession for the second year in a row and accused the Chancellor of indebting the country at the expense of subsequent generations. He also pointed out that the phrase “competitiveness of the economy” was never mentioned in his speech.

The CDU chairman accused Scholz of discrediting Germany in the EU. In his opinion, the head of government avoids taking a position on important issues. Criticizing the energy policy of the Scholz government, he pointed out that it leads to growth energy priceswhich sparks protests in neighboring countries.

Referring to defense spending, Merz said his party wants Germany “to be able to defend itself so that it doesn't have to defend itself.”

The Christian Democratic parties do not need instructions from the SPD about war and peace, “we know how to conduct an effective defense policy,” he assured, recalling that it was the Christian Democrats, despite the opposition of the SPD, who made the decision to join the Federal Republic of Germany to the NATO (in 1955 – ed.).

– Mr. Scholz, you do not deserve our trust – Merz concluded his speech.

The events in Berlin are an attempt to break the deadlock caused by the removal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) from the coalition government at the beginning of November. The reason for the fall of the cabinet was the difference of opinion between the SPD and the Greens and the FDP regarding the height 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.