Germany Headed for the Polls as Chancellor Olaf Scholz Loses Confidence Vote

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence in parliament on Monday thereby paving the way for early elections in the European Union’s most populous member and biggest economy on 23 February next year.

Scholz called the snap vote against the background of a stalled economy and had expected to lose it, but calculated triggering an early election was his best chance of reviving his party’s fading political fortunes and its leftist-led coalition government the BBC reports.

Ahead of Monday’s vote, Scholz said it would now be up to voters to “determine the political course of our country”, teeing up what is likely to be a frenetic election campaign.