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 data protection commissioner has called on Apple and Google to block the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their platforms over illegal data transfers and privacy concerns.
Germany will halt funding for Mediterranean migrant rescue missions, redirecting aid to conflict-hit regions like Sudan, in a move critics warn will worsen the humanitarian crisis at sea.
Germany has urged Iran to resume cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog amid concerns over rising tensions with Israel, warning that Tehran’s recent moves send the “wrong signal” and risk derailing a fragile ceasefire.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, calling for greater international pressure to push Moscow toward peace negotiations.
Germany’s federal government spent over 1.2 billion euros on software, licenses and IT services in 2024, more than 25% higher than the previous year.
Türkiye continues battling large-scale forest fires across multiple provinces, with hundreds evacuated and extensive firefighting efforts underway since June 27.
The United States and the Group of Seven nations have agreed on a plan to exempt U.S. companies from parts of a major global tax deal, a move set to reshape international tax stability.
Large crowds dressed in black flooded the streets of Tehran on Saturday, mourning Iran’s top military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians killed during this month’s brutal aerial war with Israel.
Tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Belgrade on Saturday, demanding snap elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic’s 12-year rule.
Ukraine's Security Service carried out overnight airstrikes on a Russian military airfield in occupied Crimea, reportedly destroying three helicopters and a key air defense system.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
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.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
Türkiye continues battling large-scale forest fires across multiple provinces, with hundreds evacuated and extensive firefighting efforts underway since June 27.
The United States and the Group of Seven nations have agreed on a plan to exempt U.S. companies from parts of a major global tax deal, a move set to reshape international tax stability.
Tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Belgrade on Saturday, demanding snap elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic’s 12-year rule.
Ukraine's Security Service carried out overnight airstrikes on a Russian military airfield in occupied Crimea, reportedly destroying three helicopters and a key air defense system.
A former Venezuelan military intelligence official has pleaded guilty in the United States to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, concluding a two-year legal process following his extradition.
Türkiye continues battling large-scale forest fires across multiple provinces, with hundreds evacuated and extensive firefighting efforts underway since June 27.
The United States and the Group of Seven nations have agreed on a plan to exempt U.S. companies from parts of a major global tax deal, a move set to reshape international tax stability.
Large crowds dressed in black flooded the streets of Tehran on Saturday, mourning Iran’s top military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians killed during this month’s brutal aerial war with Israel.
Tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Belgrade on Saturday, demanding snap elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic’s 12-year rule.
Ukraine's Security Service carried out overnight airstrikes on a Russian military airfield in occupied Crimea, reportedly destroying three helicopters and a key air defense system.
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