Germany's Scholz to submit parliament request to hold confidence vote


  • World
  • Wednesday, 11 Dec 2024

FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a statement after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Berlin, Germany December 8, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set on Wednesday to submit a request to parliament to hold a vote of confidence, the necessary precursor to holding new federal elections after the collapse of his coalition last month.

Policymaking has largely ground to a halt since Scholz's fractious coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) imploded, leaving him heading a minority government.

Germany's political system however does not allow the head of government to simply call for new elections as it is designed to ensure stability and give other branches of power such as parliament and the presidency a say in such important matters.

A government spokesperson told Reuters Scholz would make the request for a vote of confidence in writing on Wednesday.

Scholz is expected to lose the vote, slated for Dec. 16, as his government no longer has a majority. He must then request the president to dissolve parliament, triggering new elections.

The vote will come just ten days after former French Prime Minister Michel Barnier lost a no-confidence vote, underscoring the unusual degree of political instability plaguing both of Europe's top powers.

Scholz has agreed with the opposition to hold the vote on Feb. 23, setting Germany up for a short and wintry election campaign.

Currently the opposition conservatives are on track to win, with a poll published on Monday putting them on 31%, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany on 18%, Scholz's SPD on 17% and the Greens on 13%.

The FDP and newly-created Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance are currently both polling just under the 5% threshold to enter parliament on 4%.

However, analysts say polls can shift quickly, with voters less loyal to parties than they once were, recalling the 2021 election campaign when the conservatives went from frontrunner to runner-up within a few months.

The conservatives' leader Friedrich Merz in particular is considered to be prone to gaffes and quick to anger.

Scholz will become the fifth chancellor in Germany's post-World War Two history to pose a vote of confidence.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Sarah Marsh; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Future pandemic could cause $13.6 trln economic loss -Lloyd's of London
Blinken to testify in Congress on Afghanistan weeks before his term ends
Exclusive-Two U.S. lawmakers push for some Syria sanctions relief after Assad's fall
Explainer-Who is Kim Yong-hyun, ousted South Korean defence minister who attempted suicide?
More than 50% chance of La Nina in coming months, WMO says
Malaria cases up again in 2023, African children worst hit, WHO reports
Hundreds of arrests and mysterious beatings as Georgia cracks down on pro-EU protests
Romanian pro-European parties agree to quickly form broad coalition government
Death toll from Russian missile attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia rises to six, officials say
Philippines' VP Sara Duterte a no-show for questioning over Marcos threat

Others Also Read