Scholz should be a candidate for chancellor again

After the collapse of the “traffic light” coalition in Germany, the CDU/CSU opposition is calling for new elections to be held much faster than Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was aiming for.

The election would be possible in the second half of January, said CDU chairman Friedrich Merz in Berlin. “There is enough time for this, there is enough preparatory work in all parties, in all constituencies. (…) There is absolutely no reason to wait until spring of next year.”

In a unanimous decision, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group called on the Chancellor to “put a vote of confidence now, at the beginning of next week at the latest,” Merz said after the meeting. Germany now needs a federal government that can act.

There would still be enough time to identify issues that might still need to be decided in the coming election period. “We are of course ready to hold talks and of course ready to take responsibility for our country here too,” said Merz.

CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt said it would be a “disrespect for the citizens” if the federal government remained in office. Germany needs a change of course. “We simply cannot afford a chancellor coma.” It is completely unacceptable for the Union that the Chancellor is trying to “politically delay insolvency”. (sda/dpa)