German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament, leading to early elections on February 23. He called for the vote, expecting to lose, but hoped that it would give his party a chance to regain support and reset the political agenda.
This vote follows the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition two months ago, leaving him with a minority government. The loss of the vote means elections can happen sooner than the original date of September 2025.
Scholz saw the vote as an opportunity for voters to decide the country’s political future. He framed the upcoming election as a chance to set a new course, and it’s expected to lead to a tough election campaign.
In the vote, 207 MPs, mostly from Scholz’s party, supported him, while 394 voted against him, and 116 abstained. This loss means that Germany will now hold elections in February instead of waiting until September 2025.
Scholz’s party is behind in the polls, while the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) under Friedrich Merz is gaining popularity. Scholz has called for investment, especially in defense, while Merz promises tax cuts and a focus on reducing debt.
