Tue Nov 12 21:13:13 UTC 2024: ## Germany to Hold Snap Elections on February 23 After Coalition Collapse
**BERLIN** – Germany will hold snap elections on February 23 after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition last week. The decision, reached by the country’s two largest parties on Tuesday, comes after a tense negotiation period.
The conservative opposition, led by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), pushed for an early January vote to avoid a prolonged period without a stable government. Scholz, on the other hand, preferred a mid-March election to allow more time for preparations.
The February 23 date is contingent on Scholz losing a confidence vote scheduled for December 16. Following this, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will have 21 days to dissolve the Bundestag, or lower house of parliament, before elections must be held within the next 60 days.
Steinmeier has expressed his support for the timeline, deeming the targeted date “realistic.” He urged all mainstream parties to cooperate responsibly until then to “ensure Germany’s internal and external security and international reliability.”
The snap election comes at a time when Europe’s largest economy faces numerous challenges, including a second consecutive year of economic contraction, high inflation, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and intensifying competition from China. The US President-elect’s return to power on January 20 further complicates the situation.
Scholz’s coalition government, comprised of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), collapsed last week after mounting disagreements over economic and fiscal policy. The Free Democrats’ departure, prompted by Scholz’s dismissal of the FDP-aligned Finance Minister Christian Lindner, marked the end of the first tripartite alliance in Germany’s national government.
While the latest polls show the CDU/CSU alliance in the lead with 32% support, they would likely need the support of the SPD (currently polling at 15.5%) and a third party to secure a majority.
The February 23 election date will force politicians to campaign during the winter months, a time when voter turnout is typically lower. Despite this, the SPD remains confident in Scholz’s leadership, dismissing calls for him to step aside in favor of a more popular candidate, such as Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
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