Germany set for snap elections as Scholz loses vote of confidence

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as planned lost a crucial confidence vote on Monday, setting the stage for an early election in February.

Scholz secured only 207 votes in favour, while 394 lawmakers opposed him and 116 abstained in the 733-seat lower house. This fell far short of the 367 votes required for a majority.

“We have come to the end of our daily agenda, and with it, the traffic light coalition,” declared Bundestag Speaker Bärbel Bas, referring to the now-collapsed three-party alliance.

The vote follows the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition on 6 November, triggered by his dismissal of the finance minister amid a heated dispute over measures to revitalise Germany’s sluggish economy. The political fallout left Scholz leading a minority government and prompted leaders of major parties to agree on bringing forward the parliamentary election to 23 February, seven months ahead of schedule.