Scholz plans a question of trust: New elections are imminent!

Scholz plans a question of trust: New elections are imminent!

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing a crucial political change: next Monday, he wants to ask the question of trust in the Bundestag in order to initiate a new election on February 23, 2025. Scholz will apply to the President of the Bundestag, Bärbel BAS, to formally ask the question of trust. The background to this step is the resignation of finance minister Christian Lindner and the associated exit of the FDP from the traffic light coalition. Scholz now leads a red-green minority government that has no majority in the Bundestag, which significantly limits political ability to act. Confidence in the Bundestag seems to be unlikely on December 16, which forced Scholz to propose the dissolution of the Bundestag to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, reports OE24 .

steps for the new election

The processing of the question of trust follows clear requirements of the Basic Law. Scholz will ask the question in writing on December 11 at the latest, and the coordination itself will probably take place on December 16. If Scholz does not manage to gain trust, Steinmeier will have to decide within three weeks whether he will dissolve the Bundestag. In the event of a resolution, the new election would have to take place within 60 days, whereby February 23rd as the target date now seems to be determined. According to Tagesschau.de Steinmeier is already ready to make such a decision, but emphasizes that Germany needs stable majorities for a capable government.

The preparations for the new election are already underway. Election commissions have to be formed and election workers organized, while the election notifications have to be delivered to more than 60 million voters. The federal election manager, Ruth Brand, was optimistic that the election date was feasible, even if certain regional vacation periods have to be observed. Scholz plans to continue to vote important legal projects in the Bundestag in order not to fully suspend political action, despite the challenges of a minority government.