German President Dissolves Parliament, Calls for Snap Elections After Coalition Collapse

Berlin– In a historic move, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday dissolved the lower house of parliament, setting the stage for snap elections on February 23. The decision follows the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-way coalition, which lost its majority after the departure of Finance Minister Christian Lindner’s Free Democrats.

Steinmeier emphasized that in challenging times, Germany needs a stable government with the ability to act and reliable majorities in parliament. “Especially in difficult times, like now, stability requires a government capable of acting, and reliable majorities in parliament,” Steinmeier said in his address from Berlin. He further stated that early elections were the most viable solution for the country.

The president, whose role has been largely ceremonial in post-war Germany, also highlighted the importance of a fair and transparent election campaign. “External influence is a danger to democracy, whether it is covert, as was evidently the case recently in the Romanian elections, or open and blatant, as is currently being practiced particularly intensively on (social media) platform X,” Steinmeier warned.

Following the dissolution of parliament, Chancellor Scholz, leader of the Social Democrats, will head a caretaker government until the elections and formation of a new government. Scholz’s government lost a confidence vote earlier this month, leading to the collapse of his coalition, which was struggling to maintain a legislative majority.

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Conservative challenger Friedrich Merz, who is expected to contest the elections against Scholz, has criticized the government for imposing excessive regulations and stifling economic growth. Recent surveys suggest Merz’s party, the Christian Democrats, holds a commanding lead over the Social Democrats, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) slightly ahead of the SPD.

The upcoming elections are expected to reshape Germany’s political landscape, with shaky coalitions likely given the fragmented nature of the current party scene. While the mainstream parties have rejected collaboration with the AfD, the party’s growing influence complicates the formation of stable parliamentary majorities.