Scholz Faces Confidence Vote, Early Elections Expected

Germany is set to hold early federal elections on February 23, 2025, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government. The decision came after Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leading to the withdrawal of Lindner's Free Democratic Party from the coalition, leaving the government without a majority. A vote of confidence is scheduled for December 16, which Scholz is expected to lose, prompting President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve parliament. This political turmoil has sparked an agreement between the Social Democrats (SPD) and the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to advance the elections, originally set for later in 2025. The snap elections are intended to stabilize the political landscape as Germany faces economic challenges and a rising far-right political presence.