German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is preparing to present a formal application for a vote of confidence in his government this Wednesday, marking the first step toward snap elections scheduled for February.
Following the vote in Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, on December 16, Scholz will then request President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s approval to dissolve the parliament. This would trigger a 60-day countdown to hold new elections.
The vote is largely seen as a formality, as opposition lawmakers outnumber those in Scholz’s minority government. Scholz’s coalition, formed after the 2021 federal elections, initially included his center-left Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).
However, disagreements, particularly over the 2025 budget, led to the withdrawal of the FDP’s support. The party’s exit left Scholz’s government in a minority position, which is a rare occurrence in Germany’s political history.
Minority governments are typically avoided in Germany, and the collapse of a coalition is uncommon, having occurred only five times since the country adopted its current constitution in 1949. Scholz now faces the challenge of securing stable majorities to restore effective governance, a point emphasized by President Steinmeier, who highlighted the need for a government capable of action.
