German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that a confidence vote on his government could take place before Christmas amid growing political pressure. In an interview with ARD, he noted that such steps could proceed without obstacles if agreed upon by all parties.
Following the collapse of his coalition last Wednesday, Scholz initially planned a January confidence vote with elections in March, but many politicians, including members of his own coalition, are calling for an earlier vote.
Green Party spokesperson Anton Hofreiter and colleague Irene Mihalic emphasized the need for a December vote to clarify the situation before the holidays. While Scholz aims to avoid a hasty election to finalize key legislation, opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the CDU is urging a faster process, accusing Scholz of trying to hold onto power.
Scholz dismissed these claims, asserting that his Social Democratic Party (SPD) has a “good chance” of winning, despite currently trailing the CDU by 17 points in the polls. Scholz also congratulated U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, adding that he looks forward to continued partnership with the “world’s most powerful democracy.”
