President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday dissolved Germany's lower house of parliament to pave the way for snap elections on Feb. 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition.
"Especially in difficult times, like now, stability requires a government capable of acting, and reliable majorities in parliament," which was why early elections were the right way forward for Germany, Steinmeier said in Berlin.
After the elections, problem-solving must become the core business of politics again, added Steinmeier in a speech.
The president, whose post has been largely ceremonial in the post-war era, also called for the election campaign to be conducted fairly and transparently.
"External influence is a danger to democracy, whether it is covert, as was evidently the case recently in the Romanian elections, or open and blatant, as is currently being practiced particularly intensively on (social media) platform X," he said.
Scholz, a Social Democrat who will head a caretaker government until a new one can be formed, lost a confidence vote in parliament earlier this month after the departure of Finance Minister Christian Lindner's Free Democrats left his unwieldy governing coalition without a legislative majority.
The vote also kicked off election campaigning in earnest, with conservative challenger Friedrich Merz, who surveys suggest is likely to replace Scholz, asserting that the incumbent government had imposed excessive regulations and stifled growth.
The conservatives hold a comfortable lead of more than 10 points over the Social Democrats (SPD) in most polls. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is slightly ahead of the SPD, while the Greens, a coalition partner, are in fourth place.
The mainstream parties have refused to govern with the AfD, but its presence complicates the parliamentary arithmetic, making shaky coalitions more likely.
Germany’s constitutional court has rejected last-minute legal challenges to a €500 billion ($546 billion) infrastructure fund proposed by conservative leader Friedrich Merz.
Germany pledged €300 million in aid for Syrians, focusing on food, healthcare, shelters, and protection. The funds will support those in Syria and refugees in neighboring countries. Foreign Minister Baerbock stressed the need for political inclusion and accountability.
Germany's election-winning conservative CDU/CSU bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, and the Social Democrats (SPD) have reached an agreement in principle with the Greens on a significant increase in state borrowing ahead of next week’s parliamentary vote.
Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has secured a breakthrough deal with the Greens, paving the way for a massive state borrowing boost. The agreement, crucial for economic growth and defense spending, sent the euro surging as markets reacted to the historic shift in Germany’s fiscal policy.
A 24-hour strike at key German airports on Monday left over half a million passengers stranded, with over 1,000 flight cancellations, as workers demand higher wages and better conditions.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for March 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korean police will deploy 14,000 officers in Seoul on the day of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment ruling, anticipating protests and security threats. The Constitutional Court is set to deliver its verdict soon, with heightened measures in place.
China and Kazakhstan have agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including trade, security, and Belt and Road projects. At a high-level meeting in Beijing, officials emphasised stronger political ties, economic collaboration, and cultural exchanges to advance their strategic partnership.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to discuss the progress made by U.S. President Donald Trump in ceasefire talks with Russia, with both leaders emphasising the importance of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The inside of a Herculaneum delicate & ancient scroll, unseen for nearly 2,000 years, has been revealed using Artificial Intelligence.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan process, we cannot forget the years of occupation, and we will not forget them, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Global Baku Forum.
President Donald Trump has vowed to respond to the European Union's counter-tariffs, escalating tensions over the U.S. steel and aluminum duties that have sparked a trade dispute between the two economic powers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for March 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korean police will deploy 14,000 officers in Seoul on the day of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment ruling, anticipating protests and security threats. The Constitutional Court is set to deliver its verdict soon, with heightened measures in place.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to discuss the progress made by U.S. President Donald Trump in ceasefire talks with Russia, with both leaders emphasising the importance of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Fresh hostilities erupted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Wednesday, with reported air strikes causing infrastructure damage and evacuations despite a recently agreed partial ceasefire.
Putin has paused energy facility strikes, but a full ceasefire remains elusive. The move signals ongoing tensions, with discussions about a wider peace deal set to begin, leaving questions about Ukraine’s role in the negotiations.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for March 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korean police will deploy 14,000 officers in Seoul on the day of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment ruling, anticipating protests and security threats. The Constitutional Court is set to deliver its verdict soon, with heightened measures in place.
China and Kazakhstan have agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including trade, security, and Belt and Road projects. At a high-level meeting in Beijing, officials emphasised stronger political ties, economic collaboration, and cultural exchanges to advance their strategic partnership.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to discuss the progress made by U.S. President Donald Trump in ceasefire talks with Russia, with both leaders emphasising the importance of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
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