Germany's Scholz to submit parliament request to hold confidence vote

11/12/2024 13:17

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set on Wednesday to submit a request to parliament to hold a vote of confidence, the necessary precursor to holding new federal elections after the collapse of his coalition last month.



Policymaking has largely ground to a halt since Scholz's fractious coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) imploded, leaving him heading a minority government.



Germany's political system however does not allow the head of government to simply call for new elections as it is designed to ensure stability and give other branches of power such as parliament and the presidency a say in such important matters.



A government spokesperson told Reuters Scholz would make the request for a vote of confidence in writing on Wednesday.



Scholz is expected to lose the vote, slated for Dec. 16, as his government no longer has a majority. He must then request the president to dissolve parliament, triggering new elections.



The vote will come just ten days after former French Prime Minister Michel Barnier lost a no-confidence vote, underscoring the unusual degree of political instability plaguing both of Europe's top powers.