Germany will conduct a snap election on February 23, following an agreement reached among parties in the country’s fragmented parliament.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) said that the main parties had agreed on a date for a snap election.
Rolf Mützenich, the SPD’s group leader, made the official announcement from Berlin.
Mützenich stated that Scholz will officially announce a vote of confidence in the cabinet on December 11, with a vote five days later.
If the administration fails to obtain the support of parliament, which is largely predicted, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will set a date for the election.
Germany’s governing coalition crumbled last week after conflicts over the country’s ailing economy forced Scholz to fire his finance minister, leaving him in a minority government with the Green Party.
Scholz first indicated that a confidence vote would be held on January 15, but he was immediately pressured by the opposition Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) to hold it earlier.
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Friedrich Merz, the CDU’s leader, stated last week that “there is absolutely no reason to wait until January” to hold a confidence vote.
Scholz’s position on the date appeared to change over the weekend. On Friday, he stated that he would “like to facilitate new elections as soon as possible.” Then, on Sunday evening, he informed German television that he was willing to hold the confidence vote before Christmas.
Scholz is now running a minority administration alongside the Greens. According to a September opinion survey, Scholz’s government has become more unpopular in Germany, making him one of the least popular chancellors of all time.
