(Adnkronos) – German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has dissolved the Bundestag and called for new elections on February 23 next year. In difficult times like these for stability, “an able government and reliable majorities in Parliament” are needed, Steinmeier said in Berlin.
In doing so, the head of state accepted the formal request made by Chancellor Olaf Scholz after the no-confidence vote. Steinmeier has set the early vote for February 23, as previously agreed by the leaders of the SPD and CDU/CSU parties.
The timing is set by the Basic Law, the German Constitution. According to Article 68, the Federal President can dissolve the Bundestag within 21 days on the proposal of the Federal Chancellor if the latter is voted out of office by the Bundestag. Article 39 provides that new elections must be held within 60 days.
Steinmeier did not make full use of the time available to him. Chancellor Scholz lost the confidence vote in Parliament on December 16, after the previous implosion of his coalition made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP Liberals. Before making his decision, the Federal President held talks with the leaders of the parliamentary groups and factions in order to explore the possibility of possible majorities in the Bundestag.
