GERMANY: Avoiding Election Chaos – Friedrich Merz Eases on New Election Date

One week after the collapse of Germany’s traffic light coalition, it remains unclear when Chancellor Olaf Scholz will present the vote of confidence in the Bundestag. According to the constitution, the Federal President has 21 days to dissolve the Bundestag if the confidence vote fails, with new elections to follow within 60 days. CDU leader Friedrich Merz and SPD parliamentary leader Rolf Mützenich reportedly held discussions on this issue—rumored to have even taken place in the stairwell between their offices. The CDU now appears to take a more cautious approach to avoid election chaos and is considering mid-to-late February as a potential date for new elections.