German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his government have lost a vote of confidence in the Bundestag, paving the way for early elections scheduled for 23 February.
Out of 717 votes cast, 207 MPs supported the government, 394 voted against, and 116 abstained. With 367 votes required to remain in office, Scholz’s mandate has officially ended.
Scholz, who served as Finance Minister for four years in a coalition with the conservatives before becoming Chancellor in 2021, will head a caretaker government until a new administration is formed.
According to current polling, the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) hold the largest share of support, followed by the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Scholz’s SPD is currently in third place, with the Greens trailing behind.