Germany’s Scholz signals flexibility on early election date

BERLIN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed openness on Friday to discussing an earlier date for new elections with the opposition, dependent on reaching an agreement to pass key legislation this year.

Speaking at a news conference in Budapest, Scholz said he had suggested holding early elections in March after the collapse of his coalition government, with the intention of passing important legislation beforehand.

“We should discuss the date as calmly as possible. It would be good if an agreement could now be reached in the parliament among the democratic party groups about which laws can be passed this year,” he said.

Scholz added that such an agreement “could then also answer the question of when the right time is to call for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag, also with regard to the possible date of new elections.”

The chancellor stressed that determining the election date is not solely a political decision. He said the chosen date must also comply with the Federal Returning Office’s requirements to ensure adequate time for organizing a fair and democratic election process.

Germany’s main opposition Christian Democrats has insisted that Chancellor Scholz should call for a vote of confidence next week, proposing that early elections be held by January 2025 at the latest.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), proposed holding the elections on Jan. 19, a day before the US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

"In Germany, it would be perfectly possible to hold federal elections on such a day. And it would also be my recommendation to do so,” he told German weekly Stern.