Scholz must hold immediate confidence vote, says German opposition

By Farah Garayeva
November 7, 2024 14:21
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Reuters

Germany’s coalition government collapsed over budget disputes, sparking political turmoil. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz urges an immediate confidence vote, while Chancellor Scholz plans a vote in January, leading to elections by March.

Germany is in political turmoil after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-way coalition collapsed over disagreements on how to address a multi-billion-euro budget gap and revive the economy.

The coalition, made up of Scholz’s SPD, the Green Party, and the FDP, fell apart when Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the FDP for opposing his plan to suspend Germany’s debt rules to raise funds for Ukraine. The FDP then withdrew from the government, leaving the SPD and Greens without a majority.

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz has called for a confidence vote immediately, warning that the country cannot afford months of political uncertainty.

Scholz plans to hold the vote in January, which is expected to fail, triggering elections by March—six months ahead of the original September timeline. Some analysts suggest early elections could provide clearer policy direction and end the political paralysis.

In the interim, Scholz appointed Joerg Kukies, an SPD ally, as the new finance minister. However, it remains unclear if his appointment will stabilize the government.

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