Germany's political parties propose February 23 for early elections after coalition collapse

Germany's major political parties have proposed February 23, 2025, for early elections after Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government collapsed last week. Scholz is expected to call a vote of confidence in mid-December, which he is likely to lose. The collapse followed Scholz's dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leading to the withdrawal of the Free Democrats from the coalition. This left Scholz's government without a parliamentary majority, prompting calls for a swift election. The opposition Christian Democratic Union is currently leading in polls, and public sentiment favors an early election. The Greens, despite poor polling, report a surge in party membership since the coalition's collapse.