Germany is heading to snap elections on February 23, 2025 after the coalition government of Olaf Scholz collapsed as a compromise between pushy opposition parties and the will of the current government.
Scholz’s government collapsed last week when coalition junior partner Free Democrats (FDP) exit the government, after a disagreement between Scholz, who hails from the centre-left SDP party, and finance minister Christian Lindner over spending cuts.
The FDP’s exit meant that Scholz remained in power over a minority government with the Greens. The chancellor planned on a confidence vote in January in order to have the time to set up the annual budget for 2025, secure financial aid to Ukraine and strengthen the country’s Constitutional Court, before calling for early elections in March. Scholz still hopes to deliver on these with opposition’s support before elections, but opted for an early confidence vote on December 16. The government expects to lose that vote, prompting early elections.
Despite the promise, new finance minister Joerg Kukies warned that due to the time constrains and the possible early elections passing the 2025 budget would not be easy. Kukies added that the government will go on with re-privatisation plans for energy company Uniper but that a strategy for power plants would probably be postponed.
SPD is going to stood by its leader, despite a drop in popularity in recent years. There were rumours about a possible change of leadership, with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius eyed for the role, but SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Muetzenich told reporters that “Scholz is the right candidate” and that he conveys “trust, competence, experience, but at the same time also the necessary emotions.”
Meanwhile, main opposition party Christian Democrats (CDU) gears towards the vote and seems poised to win the election, according to polls. Party leader Friedrich Merz said recently that he will push for a major tax reform but ruled out any possible help to the current government besides most pressing legislation.
