Scholz announces vote of confidence for December 16 to enable February elections
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a vote of confidence for December 16, following the collapse of his government. This vote will allow for new elections on February 23. Scholz aims to maintain government operations despite a minority coalition. The government fell after Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner amid disputes over economic policies. Scholz's Social Democrats and the Greens will continue to govern until the elections, despite opposition calls for immediate elections. Scholz reaffirmed Germany's support for Ukraine amid concerns about future U.S. backing after Donald Trump's election. He emphasized the importance of strong U.S.-German relations, regardless of political changes in either country.