German President to Call Snap Election if Parliament Withdraws Confidence in Scholz

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced on Thursday that he would support a snap election should Chancellor Olaf Scholz lose a vote of no confidence in the Bundestag. Speaking on the potential for political instability, Steinmeier emphasized the importance of a functioning government with a sustainable majority, as outlined in Article 68 of the German Basic Law.

In his statement, Steinmeier noted that while Germany has rarely operated with a minority government, the possibility of initiating a snap election would address the need for stability. This announcement comes amid mounting challenges for Scholz’s coalition government, with the president confirming he would also approve Scholz’s request to dismiss Free Democrat ministers Christian Lindner and two others, signaling the coalition’s fracturing.

Steinmeier reassured the public, calling the coalition’s potential end a manageable political crisis. He underscored that Germany’s Basic Law provides clear guidelines for resolving such situations, ensuring that democratic mechanisms remain intact amid the political shifts.