Olaf Scholz ready for a vote of confidence this year

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is no longer ruling out a vote of confidence to initiate new elections before Christmas. “The fact that I’m asking the vote of confidence before Christmas is not a problem for me at all,” said the SPD politician on Sunday evening on ARD. However, he made this dependent on SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich and opposition leader Friedrich Merz agreeing on a date.

“I agree: If Mützenich and Merz come to an agreement, I will follow that,” emphasized the Chancellor in the “Caren Miosga” program. “I’m not attached to my position,” added Scholz. But he is counting on re-election. Germany needs a new, democratically legitimized government quickly, said Scholz. Citizens should “set the course” here.

However, the necessary democratic steps and technical preparations for a proper new election must always be taken into account. “None of us, not you, not me, not anyone else, wants something to happen like in Berlin, that we have to repeat elections,” said Scholz.

After the dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner and the breakup of the traffic light coalition, Scholz initially suggested that the Bundestag could vote on the vote of confidence on January 15th.

The Union wants to speed up the process and is calling for a vote of confidence next Wednesday.

Merz made this a prerequisite for discussions with the federal government about a joint approach to passing important legislative projects in the Bundestag before the election.