The German head of state announced on Friday the countdown to the parliamentary elections by dissolving the lower part of the German parliament, the Bundestag.
“I have to dissolve the German 20th Bundestag in order to set the date for early elections on February 23,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier declared, adding that “political stability in Germany is a valuable asset. “
Steinmeier’s decision comes after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence in the legislature on December 16.
Steinmeier set the date of the new elections for February 23.
Parliamentary leaders from Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the conservative opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) had agreed on the date.
Recent opinion polls give the CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, a lead of around 10 points over the centre-left SPD, suggesting a re-election bid for Scholz.
The far-right populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) conducted polls and nominated Alice Weidel as its candidate for chancellor.
But other parties have so far refused to collaborate with the AfD and Weidel has little or no chance of accepting the job.
Some of the key issues facing Germany include immigration, kick-starting the economy and how best to support Ukraine as it battles Russia’s continued invasion.
“Hatred and violence will have no place in this electoral campaign, nor will denigration or intimidation. . . all of this is poison for democracy,” Steinmeier said.
The president also briefed political parties and the electorate on the demanding situations the country will face next given the “economically volatile situation. . . wars in the Middle East and Ukraine” and ongoing debates over immigration and climate change.
kb/rc (dpa, Reuters, AFP)