Khankendi to host 17th ECO summit
Azerbaijan is an active member of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), and hosting the 17th ECO Summit in the country highlights its growing r...
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz seeks a vote of confidence in parliament as a prelude to new federal elections after his coalition’s collapse, amid rising political instability in Germany.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to submit a request to parliament on Wednesday for a vote of confidence, a necessary step before new federal elections can be held following the collapse of his coalition last month.
Policymaking has largely stalled since Scholz’s coalition—comprised of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP)—broke down, leaving him at the helm of a minority government.
Germany’s political system does not allow the head of government to simply call for new elections, as it’s designed to maintain stability and require other branches of power, such as parliament and the presidency, to have a say in such significant matters.
A government spokesperson told Reuters that Scholz will make the request for a vote of confidence in writing on Wednesday.
Scholz is expected to lose the vote, scheduled for Dec. 16, as his government no longer holds 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 affecting both of Europe’s top powers.
Scholz has agreed with the opposition to hold the vote on Feb. 23, setting Germany up for a short and wintry election campaign.
Currently, the opposition conservatives are leading in the polls, with a survey published on Monday showing them at 31%, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany on 18%, Scholz’s SPD on 17%, and the Greens at 13%.
The FDP and the newly-created Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance are both currently polling just under the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament.
However, analysts caution that polls can shift rapidly, with voters displaying less loyalty to parties than in the past—echoing the 2021 election campaign when the conservatives fell from frontrunner to runner-up within a few months.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservatives, is particularly known for making gaffes and having a quick temper.
Scholz will become the fifth chancellor in post-World War Two Germany to pose a vote of confidence.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
At least seven people remain missing following a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the town of Esparto, Northern California, according to a report by NBC News citing local officials.
A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by MP Qaya Məmmədov, took part in the annual session of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), held from 28 June to 3 July in Porto, Portugal.
Chinese scientists have unveiled PlantGPT, the first large language model-based artificial intelligence designed specifically for plant functional genomics.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical level and called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. He emphasised that vital infrastructure is on the verge of collapse due to a severe fuel shortage.
The US House of Representatives approved a significant tax-cut and spending bill on Thursday, passing it by a narrow margin of 218 to 214. The legislation has now been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
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