German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the dissolution of the Bundestag, the country’s lower house of parliament, on Friday, paving the way for early elections scheduled for February 23.
In a speech, Steinmeier emphasized the importance of political stability, stating, "I have decided to dissolve the 20th German Bundestag to fix the date for an early election for February 23rd. Political stability in Germany is a precious asset."
The decision follows Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s loss of a vote of confidence in the legislature on December 16. The Social Democrats (SPD) and the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) agreed on the February election date.
Challenges Ahead for the SPD
Opinion polls indicate that Friedrich Merz’s CDU holds a lead of around 10 points over Scholz’s SPD, making the re-election bid for Scholz particularly challenging.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, led by Alice Weidel, has also been polling strongly. However, Weidel’s chances of becoming chancellor remain slim as other major parties have ruled out forming coalitions with the AfD.
Key Election Issues
The upcoming elections will revolve around pressing issues such as immigration, revitalizing Germany’s economy, and determining the most effective support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.
