German President Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the dissolution of the Bundestag. This is stated in a statement of the head of state on December 27.

"It was decided to dissolve the German Bundestag in accordance with Article 68 of the Basic Law," - stated on the government website.

As Steinmeier noted, he has spent the last few days in discussions with the chairmen of parliamentary groups to make sure that there is no longer any prospect of a stable parliamentary majority for the federal government.

"Dear fellow citizens, today I have decided to dissolve the 20th German parliament and call new elections for February 23, 2025. The current government has voted no confidence in [German Chancellor Olaf Scholz], has spoken out about the lack of a majority and the formation of a new government. I am convinced that new elections are now the right way forward for the sake of our country," the German leader pointed out.

The Bundestag will continue its work until a new government is formed, Steinmeier added.

Fiasco according to plan: Olaf Scholz's government faces a vote of no confidence

Germany faces snap elections to the Bundestag

On December 16, the Bundestag revoked confidence in the government of German Chancellor Scholz. At the vote on the request, which the chancellor sent on December 11, less than a third of deputies voted in favor of Scholz. He then suggested that German President Steinmeier dissolve the Bundestag, which necessitated the calling of early elections.

Scholz announced plans to raise the issue of a vote of confidence in the government in the Bundestag in early November. Steinmeier then endorsed February 23, 2025, as a possible date for early parliamentary elections. The leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) unanimously nominated Scholz. German political scientist Eugenia Pimenova estimates that Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz is the most likely contender to succeed him.

On December 23, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel also expressed her opinion that Merz is a suitable candidate for the post of chancellor. According to her, economic issues are currently taking center stage. At the same time, she was critical of the categorical rejection of a possible coalition with the Greens, which was particularly advocated by the chairman of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), Markus Söder.