Path to new elections: Scholz delegates the struggle for a new election date to parliamentary group leaders

In the struggle for new elections to the Bundestag, there are growing prospects that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will ask the vote of confidence earlier than mid-January, as he had previously planned. The date of the vote of confidence in the Bundestag determines when a new election can take place – according to Scholz’s original schedule, elections would be held at the end of March. However, the question of how far the date can be brought forward without jeopardizing proper election preparation is now becoming increasingly important. This point is also likely to play a role at a switching conference between the Federal Returning Officer and her state colleagues at midday.

“It’s no problem for me at all that I’m asking the question of trust before Christmas, if everyone agrees with it,” said Scholz that evening on the ARD program “Caren Miosga”. If there is an agreement between SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich and Union parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz, he will take note of it. This means that the Chancellor himself is now less at the center of the discussion than the two faction leaders.

Merz, who is also the Union’s candidate for chancellor, is pushing for the fastest possible date and has suggested that Scholz ask the vote of confidence on Wednesday so that elections can be held in January. On Sunday, before Scholz’s ARD interview, Mützenich linked the vote of confidence date from mid-January to an earlier date to agreements with the Union as to which projects would still be implemented together. In the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” he cited the increase in child benefit, the securing of the Germany Ticket, relief for industry and the protection of the Constitutional Court as concrete examples.

Merz insisted on a different order and replied in “Stern”: “We can talk about that as soon as Olaf Scholz has asked the vote of confidence in the German Bundestag.”

However, Federal Returning Officer Ruth Brand considers an election date too early to be too risky given the necessary preparations. She advised that after the vote of confidence and the dissolution of the Bundestag by the Federal President, the maximum period of 60 days provided for by the Basic Law should be used as fully as possible. This point is also likely to play a role in the long-scheduled switching conference with the state returning officers.

One of the main ballot paper suppliers, the Bonn printing company Köllen Druck, also sees risks with an election date in January. Mistakes always happen when printing, but there is no time for corrections, explains managing director Bastian Beeck in the magazine “Stern”.

“I didn’t provoke” and “I’m cooler”: What else Scholz said

In the ARD broadcast, Scholz also spoke in more detail about how his coalition with the Greens and FDP came about, which now makes a new election necessary. What Scholz said at Miosga:

– On the break of the traffic light coalition:

“I didn’t provoke him,” said the SPD politician. He fought until the end to ensure that the three-party constellation of SPD, Greens and FDP remained together, but in the end that was not possible. “I’ve endured the fact that in order to compromise and cooperate, I’ve repeatedly, sometimes with a good face, turned a pretty nasty game. But when it’s over, then it has to be over.”

– On the very personal reckoning with FDP leader Christian Lindner:

“It was decent, clear and clear and very understandable for all citizens,” said Scholz. He was often asked to hit the table more often. At the same time, he emphasized: “Without my repeated efforts to cooperate and compromise, the government would not have lasted for so long. It would not even have come into being.”

– On his pending nomination by the SPD:

Scholz said he has no doubts that it will be put up. However, according to surveys, citizens would much rather have Defense Minister Boris Pistorius than the SPD candidate for chancellor.

– On an election campaign against Merz:

The differences in character and temperament between them are great, said Scholz on the show. When asked about the biggest difference in character, he explained: “I think I’m a little cooler when it comes to matters of state – to put it as politely as I can manage it right now.” In addition, they both have very different political goals. He is calm about the survey deficit: “It’s a size that can be made up for.” In surveys, the Social Democrats are currently 15 to 18 percentage points behind the CDU and CSU.

– On collaboration with the future US President Donald Trump:

“I’m never naive, but I’m also always a bit fearless,” explained the Chancellor. He continues to rely on well-functioning transatlantic cooperation. “My principle is always, if I may put it so flippantly: we dance with those who are in the hall. And that also applies to the future President of the USA.” During his first term in office, Trump massively criticized Germany for what he saw as insufficient military spending, the German trade surplus and the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Scholz pointed out that Germany now spends two percent of its gross domestic product on defense in line with the common NATO goal.