Overview

• Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under pressure from within his Social Democratic Party (SPD) to step aside in favor of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is more popular in polls.
• The tripartite coalition of the SPD, Greens, and Free Democrats (FDP) dissolved earlier this month due to disagreements over fiscal policies, particularly the constitutional 'debt brake.'
• A vote of confidence for Scholz is scheduled for December 16, which he is expected to lose, paving the way for early elections on February 23, 2025.
• Germany is grappling with a recession and rising influence of the far-right, complicating the political landscape and raising questions about future coalition possibilities.
• Scholz's recent outreach to Vladimir Putin has drawn criticism but aims to position him as a diplomatic leader, appealing to pacifist sentiments within the SPD.