Olaf Scholz signals willingness for earlier German confidence vote

11/11/2024 11:57

        German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that he would be willing to call a vote of confidence in parliament before Christmas, a move that would pave the way for snap elections following the collapse of his three-way governing coalition.
        
        The timing is earlier than the January date he had proposed last week and follows increasing pressure from politicians and the public for a quicker vote.
        
        Europe's largest economy was thrown into disarray last week with the collapse of Scholz's coalition and disagreements over how much money the government should spend to encourage growth and support Ukraine.
        
        "I'm not clinging to my job," he said in an interview on ARD television.
        
        Scholz had suggested holding a vote of confidence in his government on Jan. 15, with a snap election in March, but the conservative opposition led by Friedrich Merz wants an election in January. A confidence vote is a necessary precursor to an election.