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In a significant political development, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced on Friday the dissolution of parliament and scheduled snap elections for February 23rd. The decision follows recent political turmoil, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s loss of a confidence vote and the breakdown of his three-party coalition.
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,” and noted that “political stability in Germany is a precious asset.”
The Bundestag passed a vote of no confidence in the Scholz government.
This opens the way for early parliamentary elections in Germany, with the provisional date being 23 February 2025. pic.twitter.com/RqvPc2IQmL
— Olga Bazova (@OlgaBazova) December 17, 2024
The President expressed concerns about election integrity, particularly regarding social media platform X. He asserted that “Platform X is a danger to democracy,” and stressed that the campaign must proceed with fairness and transparency, warning against foreign interference.
“It is precisely in difficult times like these that stability requires a government capable of taking action and a reliable majority in parliament,” Steinmeier declared, adding, “Therefore, I am convinced that for the good of our country, new elections are the right way.”
He further cautioned, “Hatred and violence must have no place in this election campaign, nor denigration or intimidation… all this is poison for democracy.”
German lawmakers passed a measure that will pave the way for a national election in two months, backing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s plan to end his embattled administration early https://t.co/dqej8UitfF pic.twitter.com/dVnJnfx5wx
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) December 16, 2024
The announcement follows recent political upheaval, including the dismissal of Germany’s finance minister amid debates over economic recovery strategies. The Alternative for Germany Party (AfD), which has received support from Elon Musk, stands as the sole mainstream party advocating conservative and anti-globalist positions.
Current polling data indicates the Christian Democratic Union leads with 31 percent support, while the AfD holds second position at 19.5 percent. Scholz’s Social Democratic Party trails at 16 percent, followed by the Greens at 12.5 percent, with smaller parties recording single-digit support.
The upcoming election could potentially strengthen the AfD’s position, as voters express concerns about immigration policies and their impact on German society.
