German president calls early elections for February 2025

Berlin, December 27, 2024 – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has announced that early elections will be held on February 23, 2025, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition.

The move comes after Scholz’s government faced a failed vote of confidence in December, and the coalition, made up of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party, and the Free Democrats (FDP), fell apart in November.

Steinmeier’s decision was widely expected after the political crisis. Opinion polls show the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leading by around 10 points, putting Scholz’s SPD at a disadvantage.

Germany’s constitution requires new elections to take place within 60 days of a failed vote of confidence. In his statement, President Steinmeier stressed that while stability is important, it must be supported by a capable government and a reliable majority in parliament.