Germany set for snap elections in February

After collapse of Chancellor Scholz’s three-party coalition, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier backs timeline for February 23 vote.

Germany is set to hold snap elections on February 23, in an effort to establish a stable government following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition last week.

The election date, agreed upon by the country’s two biggest parties on Tuesday, represents a compromise between the conservative opposition, which pushed for a January vote to avoid leaving Germany without clear leadership, and Scholz, who preferred mid-March to allow more time for authorities and parties to prepare.

The February 23 date is predicated on Scholz holding a confidence vote on December 16 that he is expected to lose. After that, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will have 21 days to dissolve the Bundestag or lower house of parliament. Elections would have to be held within the next 60 days.

Steinmeier said he backed the timeline and deemed the targeted date “realistic”.

The head of state urged all mainstream parties to cooperate responsibly until then to “ensure Germany’s internal and external security and international reliability in this transitional phase”.