The majority of members of the German Bundestag supported the vote of no confidence in the government of Olaf Scholz.
There will be a new government in Germany. The majority of Bundestag representatives supported the vote of no confidence in Olaf Scholz’s cabinet. The German Chancellor himself raised this issue in parliament after his coalition collapsed. Early elections in Germany are scheduled for February 23.
Conflict with the government
Olaf Scholz requested a vote of confidence in his government after the ruling tripartite coalition collapsed in early November. This happened after the German Chancellor fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner, head of the Free Democratic Party of Germany. Following Linder, two of his three cabinet colleagues immediately resigned – effectively leading to the collapse of the ruling coalition.
After that, Olaf Scholz’s cabinet collapsed into a minority government consisting of the Social Democrats and the Greens. It still managed to function, but the lack of majority support in parliament made its work difficult.
In Germany’s postwar history, the Bundestag has voted on the issue of confidence in the government only six times. The last time this happened was in 2005. Then the current Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (like Scholz, a Social Democrat) called early elections. They were won by the coalition of Christian parties CDU/CSU led by Angela Merkel.
Economic disputes
Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats and Greens want to modernize infrastructure, finance the transition to green energy, and help industry and Ukraine – on credit, with borrowed funds.
But Christian Lindner’s liberal, free-market Free Democratic Party of Germany strongly opposes the new borrowing, calling instead for tax cuts, cuts in social spending and a delay in the transition to carbon neutrality.
Favorites to win
According to polls, the coalition of Christian parties CDU/CSU led by Friedrich Merz has the best chance of winning the early elections: it is supported by just over 30% of voters. Merz, in particular, is promising to increase military spending and close the border to illegal immigrants. He also does not rule out the possibility of supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine – Scholz and his party oppose this.
Second place, according to polls, could go to the far-right Alternative for Germany. About 20% of voters are ready to vote for him. However, other parties have traditionally refused to form to cooperate with the Alternative, so the far right is unlikely to join the new coalition.
The Social Democrats, according to polls, could get about 17% of the vote, and the Greens – 11%.
Source: korrespondent
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