German president to decide next week whether to dissolve parliament


BERLIN

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Friday that he will decide on Dec. 27 whether to dissolve the parliament.


In a statement, Steinmeier explained that he has begun meeting with parliamentary group leaders to explore options after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament earlier this week.

“Over the past few days, I have held talks with the leaders of the parliamentary groups and factions in the German Bundestag to ascertain that there is no longer any prospect of a stable parliamentary majority for a government,” Steinmeier said.

“I intend to take a decision on the dissolution of the German Bundestag in accordance with Article 68 of the Constitution on December 27, 2024,” he added.

Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament earlier this week, in a calculated political move to pave the way for early elections next February.

Speaking to parliament on Monday, he defended his decision to end the coalition with the liberal FDP party, stressing that early elections would allow voters to determine the country's future direction.

He lost the vote of confidence in parliament by a vote of 394-207 with 116 abstentions. His coalition partner, the Greens, strategically abstained to ensure the success of the maneuver to trigger early elections.

According to the Constitution, when a parliamentary majority withdraws confidence in the chancellor, the president may dissolve parliament at the chancellor's request, prompting new elections.

After the government's collapse, parliamentary leaders from the SPD, the Greens, and the main opposition Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) agreed to propose Feb. 23 as the date for early elections. The final decision on the election date will be made by Steinmeier.