Federal President calls for new elections for the Bundestag – and warns about X

Dissolution of the Bundestag, new elections on February 23, 2025. With the decision by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Olaf Scholz’s government will soon be officially over (read more about it here). In a statement at Bellevue Palace on Friday morning, the first man in the state justified his decision – and at the same time warned against influencing the upcoming federal election. The Federal President’s speech in full:

“Dear fellow citizens,

I decided today to dissolve the 20th German Bundestag and to schedule new elections for February 23rd next year. A corresponding letter has just been handed over to the President of the German Bundestag.

Political stability in Germany is rightly a valuable asset. She benefited and protected us. The dissolution of the Bundestag before the end of the legislative period and early elections are exceptional cases in our country. That’s what the mothers and fathers of our Basic Law wanted.

But especially in difficult times like now, stability requires an effective government and reliable majorities in parliament. Last week I held discussions with the chairmen of the parliamentary groups and groups in the German Bundestag. According to the vote on the vote of confidence, the current government no longer has a majority. But in the discussions I couldn’t see any majorities in favor of a government with a different composition.

That is why I am convinced that new elections are now the right path for the good of our country. Our constitution has made provisions for this situation. The Bundestag continues to work until a new Bundestag is formed. The federal government is in office and will continue to conduct business after the federal election until a new government is formed. Our democracy also works in times of transition.

I hope that the strength of our democracy will be visible to voters now in the beginning of the election campaign. The next federal government has major tasks ahead of it. That’s why the coming weeks must focus on the best solutions to the challenges of our time.

The economically uncertain situation in which companies are struggling and jobs are at risk; the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, the effects of which are also being felt here; the pressing questions of controlling immigration and integration; climate change, the consequences of which are increasingly affecting us; peaceful and safe coexistence in our country.

After the recent long party-political disputes about whether and how to hold new elections, after the election campaign that has now begun, it must be said that it is now time for problem-solving to become the core business of politics again. This is exactly what people expect now. They expect viable proposals for a good future for our country, which has to assert itself in difficult times.

And I think they understand that there are priorities and painful truths involved. Because politics is always the negotiation of what is possible. And that can never be all at the same time. Of course, the debate about the best solutions can also be heated and sharpened. Especially during the election campaign. Our liberal democracy can tolerate that. Or even more: it needs the competition of ideas. But I expect this competition to be conducted with respect and decency. Simply because after the election the art of compromise will be required in order to form a stable government.

And I also expect that the election campaign will be conducted using fair, transparent means. External influence is a danger to democracy, be it covert, as was recently evident in the elections in Romania, or open and blatant, as is currently being carried out particularly intensively on Platform X. I firmly oppose all attempts at external influence. The voting decision is made solely by citizens in Germany who are entitled to vote.

Something else goes without saying: hatred and violence must have no place in this election campaign. And neither does what she prepares. Denigration, intimidation, violence: all of this is poison for democracy. All of this is damaging our democracy. We must outlaw violence. I expect this from everyone who applies for responsibility.

It is now up to you, dear fellow citizens, to decide which path we will take together in the next few years. The decision is not easy. Not for the elderly, whose certainties have been shaken by the world’s crises. Not for the young people who look to the future with skepticism. Not for those who have immigrated. Not for those who are frustrated or disappointed at not being seen or heard.

But, and this is the crucial point: we all need them. Your opinion counts. That’s why I ask you to go vote and vote knowing that your vote could be the deciding one. Let’s protect and strengthen our democracy.