Two thirds of German voters want prompt new elections: poll

Sat Nov 09 04:56:45 UTC 2024: ## German Voters Demand Snap Elections After Coalition Collapse

**Berlin, Germany (November 9, 2024):** Following the implosion of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition this week, a majority of German voters are calling for immediate snap elections, according to a poll released Friday.

The three-party alliance, known as the “traffic light coalition,” crumbled on Wednesday after months of internal squabbles, coinciding with Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. While Scholz has vowed to continue in a minority government and hold a confidence vote in January, leading to potential elections in March, 65% of German voters are demanding a faster timeline for new elections.

The poll, conducted for public broadcaster ARD, found that only 33% of voters support Scholz’s proposed timeline. The collapse of the coalition, which comprised the Social Democrats (SPD), the Green Party, and the Free Democrats (FDP), has been met with widespread relief among the German population. A separate poll revealed that 59% of respondents welcomed the end of the deeply unpopular coalition.

The crisis reached its breaking point when Scholz dismissed his rebellious Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the FDP, effectively ousting the smallest party from the coalition. This leaves the SPD and Greens ruling in a precarious minority government, facing a plethora of domestic and international challenges.

Despite the calls for immediate elections, Scholz is relying on the support of the conservative CDU-CSU alliance to pass crucial legislation before Christmas. However, the pressure for new elections is mounting, with publications like Bild daily urging Scholz to clear the way for a new government.

The political turmoil in Germany comes at a time when the country is grappling with various domestic and international crises. It remains to be seen whether Scholz will heed the public’s call for swift elections or whether he will try to navigate through the crisis with a weakened minority government.

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