As expected, a majority of German Bundestag members voted against Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a scheduled vote of confidence, putting Germany on track for early elections on February 23.
Scholz last week called for the first vote of confidence in nearly 20 years after the coalition government collapsed in November. The vote is a necessary step to pave the way for a snap election.
According to a roll call vote, 207 members voted in favor of Scholz, falling short of the absolute majority of 367 votes among the 733 members of the House of Representatives. On the other hand, 394 MPs voted against the bill, and 116 abstained.
Scholz’s troubled coalition government lost its majority after one of its partners, the Free Democratic Party (FDP/Renew), withdrew over a dispute over economic policy.
Opposition parties, including the FDP and the Christian Democratic Party (CDU/CSU/EPP), were expected to vote against Scholz. The prime minister’s own party, the Social Democratic Party (S&D), which has 207 members, was expected to vote in favor.
Mr Scholz’s remaining coalition partner, the Green Party, has indicated it intends to abstain, which would allow MPs from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD/ESN) party to vote for Mr Scholz and block early election plans. That scenario could have been avoided.
Details of how individual members voted are expected to be released in the future.
Mr Scholz is now expected to ask German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve the Bundestag so new elections can be held in February. The dissolution is scheduled for December 27, according to a schedule provided by Scholz after talks with Steinmeier and the opposition.
(Edited by Martina Monti)
