Merkel is facing a confidence vote and possible new elections

Merkel is facing a confidence vote and possible new elections

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz faces a vote of confidence on Monday, which he is expected to lose. This could pave the way for early elections next year.

Consequences of a lost vote of confidence

Scholz himself called the vote and if he lost, he would have to ask the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to dissolve parliament. This process would trigger fresh elections that must take place within 60 days of the dissolution of Parliament.

Unity with the opposition

Olaf Scholz, who leads the Social Democratic Party (SPD), agreed with the opposition parties to hold early federal elections on February 23rd.

Collapse of the governing coalition

Last month, Germany's ruling coalition collapsed after disputes over the country's weak economy led to Scholz firing his finance minister, Christian Lindner. This left him in a minority government with the Green Party. Since then, legislation has largely come to a standstill.

Resident dissatisfaction with the government

Scholz had originally announced he would hold the confidence vote on January 15, but faced immediate pressure from the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to hold it earlier. Scholz's government is becoming increasingly unpopular in Germany, and according to an opinion poll in September he is considered one of the most unpopular chancellors in history.

The CDU's chances in new elections

If a new election takes place, indicate Surveys pointed out that the CDU, the party of former long-time Chancellor Angela Merkel, has a good chance of winning. The CDU currently leads with 31% of the vote, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) with 18%, Scholz's SPD with 16% and the Greens with 12%.

Friedrich Merz and the future of the CDU

The CDU, currently led by Friedrich Merz, together with its Bavarian “sister party”, the Christian Social Union (CSU), is the most dominant force in Germany’s post-war history. Merz's campaign is focused on measures to strengthen Europe's largest economy, including work incentives and tax breaks.

Economic challenges in Germany

The German economy shrank last year for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the latest Forecasts According to the European Commission, it is expected to continue to shrink this year.

The rise of the AfD

The AfD has also gained significant ground this year. In September, it became the first far-right party to win a state election since 1945, surprising centrist parties with nearly a third of the vote in the eastern state of Thuringia.

Looking back at the last new election in Germany

The last new election in Germany took place in 2005. This was announced by then Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who subsequently lost to Merkel.

Reporting was by CNN's Anna Cooban, Sebastian Shukla, Claudio Otto and Inke Kappeler.