Germany sets February election date following coalition collapse

Germany will hold elections on 23 February after the collapse of the governing coalition. This follows Chancellor Olaf Scholz's dismissal of finance minister Christian Lindner, which escalated tensions within the government. The proposed election date is pending confirmation. Scholz will face a confidence vote on 16 December, which he is expected to lose. If that happens, the election date will be formally submitted to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The political crisis intensified after a heated debate over the 2025 budget. Scholz accused Lindner of prioritizing party interests over the country’s needs, while Lindner criticized Scholz for creating uncertainty.