Germany heads for snap parliamentary elections on February 23

Germany plans to hold early legislative elections on February 23, 2025, after the breakup of Olaf Scholz's coalition a week ago, according to information obtained by Agence France-Presse from sources close to the Party Social Democrat (SPD) and by the main German media, including The mirror et Bild. After several days of standoff, the date was concluded in agreement with the main opposition party, the conservatives of the CDU/CSU, added sources close to the SPD, the party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. German media specify that the final decision on the date of the elections must be taken by the Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The breakdown, on Wednesday, November 6, of the tripartite coalition led by Olaf Scholz plunged Europe's largest economy into an unprecedented crisis. The German Chancellor said he was ready, on Sunday, under conditions, to submit this year to a vote of confidence by deputies with a view to accelerating the organization of early legislative elections.

Scholz in a hurry to pick up the pace

Mr. Scholz, now at the head of a minority government with the environmentalists, had initially set the vote of confidence for January 15, with a view to a vote in March. But pressed from all sides to accelerate the pace, the unpopular leader then backed down and entrusted the task of setting the date to the parliamentary groups of the conservatives of the CDU/CSU and the SPD.

Once Olaf Scholz loses the confidence of the deputies of the Bundestag, the lower house of Parliament – ​​an almost inevitable scenario given that he no longer has a majority – Mr. Steinmeier will have three weeks to dissolve the chamber .

Then, according to the procedure, new elections must take place within sixty days. Since Monday, the president has been holding consultations with party leaders to find a suitable date. Federal Electoral Officer Ruth Brand said Tuesday she was not opposed to an early election before March, deeming holding a vote feasible “with complete legal security”during a hearing before the Bundestag Election Control Committee.