Article

2024-12-28 Europe

Germany braces for elections as parliament dissolved

[DW] German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has announced the dissolution of the country's lower house of parliament. The move paves the way for an early election in February.

Germany's head of state started the countdown to a general election on Friday by dissolving the country's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag.

"I have decided to dissolve the 20th German Bundestag to fix the date for an early election for February 23," said President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, adding that "political stability in Germany is a precious asset."

Steinmeier's decision comes after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence in the legislature on December 16.

Steinmeier set the date for the new election for February 23.

The parliamentary leaders of Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the conservative opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) had previously agreed on the date.

WHO COULD BE THE NEXT CHANCELLOR?
Recent opinion polls have the CDU, headed by Friedrich Merz, holding a lead of around 10 points over the center-left SPD suggesting a tough bid for reelection for Scholz.

The dissolving of Germany's lower house of parliament paves the way for an early election on February 23Image: Soeren Stache/dpa/picture alliance
The populist, far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been polling strongly and has nominated Alice Weidel as its candidate for chancellor.

But other parties have so far refused to work with the AfD, meaning Weidel has little to no chance of taking 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 must have no place in this election campaign, nor denigration or intimidation... all this is poison for democracy," Steinmeier said.

The president also told political parties and voters of the challenges the next government will face given the "economically unstable situation... the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine" and the ongoing debates over immigration and climate change.

Posted by trailing wife 2024-12-28 2024-12-28 02:59|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

#1 Watch as anything not Marxist (aka 'far-right) will be blocked by the established parties no matter the incoherent nature of the alliance made.

Posted by Procopius2k 2024-12-28 07:35|| 2024-12-28 07:35|| Front Page Top

#2 include immigration, kick-starting the economy and how best to support Ukraine

Ah. So more of the current.

Posted by swksvolFF 2024-12-28 11:27|| 2024-12-28 11:27|| Front Page Top

#3 Among the "democratic" parties there's an iron commitment to the hard left eco-socialist policies that are destroying the country's economy.

The election will not change anything.

The likely, but not certain transition from Scholtz to Merz will bring as much change as the transition from Brezhnev to Andropov and Chernenko brought to the SU.

Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2024-12-28 12:01|| 2024-12-28 12:01|| Front Page Top

#4 Like France, there will likely be shenanigans. If there are, Germany will end up like France with a government that is more dysfunctional than a Jersey Shore episode and another election shortly thereafter.

Posted by Super Hose 2024-12-28 13:06|| 2024-12-28 13:06|| Front Page Top

#5 @4 I don't think so.

The AfD is the only relevant party still opposed to the climate "Great Leap Forward".

Polls indicate that they might get 20%+ of the votes and seats at most.
Even then they will have absolutely ZERO influence on any policies, i.e. absolutely NO political power whatsoever.

As I said, the other relevant parties have an iron commitment to economic climate suicide.

Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2024-12-28 14:05|| 2024-12-28 14:05|| Front Page Top

#6 Over the next year, what politicians think will become less important in proportion to what the people think. Standby for heavy swells as the ship comes about.

Posted by Super Hose 2024-12-28 14:32|| 2024-12-28 14:32|| Front Page Top

#7 We'll see. If Trumpism triumphs no one will know what's gonna happen.

How big is the preference cascade? World-wide? Could get very interesting.

Posted by alanc 2024-12-28 16:33|| 2024-12-28 16:33|| Front Page Top

#8 Watch as anything not Marxist (aka 'far-right) will be blocked by the established parties

Since the people have forfeited the confidence of the government, the only reasonable course is for the government to dissolve the people and elect another.

Posted by SteveS 2024-12-28 17:49|| 2024-12-28 17:49|| Front Page Top

#9 That's a Triple+20 throw.

Posted by swksvolFF 2024-12-28 20:07|| 2024-12-28 20:07|| Front Page Top

#10 @8 That's a Brecht quote about the 1953 uprising.

The question is, who would play the role of the GSOFG in a 21st century version of 1953?

Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2024-12-28 21:30|| 2024-12-28 21:30|| Front Page Top

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