Overview

• Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a vote of confidence for December 16, paving the way for a February 23 election after the collapse of his coalition government.
• The dissolution follows a contentious dispute over fiscal policy, with Scholz sacking Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leading to the end of the 'traffic light' coalition.
• Opposition leader Friedrich Merz criticized Scholz's leadership during a Bundestag debate, accusing him of failing to understand the country's needs.
• The SPD is considering Defense Minister Boris Pistorius as a potential candidate amidst internal debate over Scholz's candidacy.
• Polls suggest the CDU/CSU alliance leads, with the AfD positioned as the second-largest party, raising concerns about potential impacts on Germany's constitutional court.