German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the lower house of parliament on Friday, setting the stage for snap elections on February 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government.
Steinmeier emphasized the need for a stable, functioning government during challenging times and called early elections the best path forward for Germany. In his address, he urged political leaders to focus on problem-solving post-elections and called for a fair and transparent campaign. He also warned against external interference in the democratic process, citing concerns over social media influence.
Chancellor Scholz, of the Social Democrats (SPD), will lead a caretaker government after losing a confidence vote earlier this month. The departure of Finance Minister Christian Lindner’s Free Democrats from the coalition left the government without a legislative majority.
Election campaigning is now in full swing, with conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz criticizing Scholz’s government for overregulation and economic stagnation. Polls show the conservatives leading by over 10 points, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has overtaken the SPD. The Greens, Scholz’s coalition partner, trail in fourth place.
Despite its rising popularity, mainstream parties have ruled out forming a government with the AfD, complicating prospects for stable coalitions in the next parliament.
