A new poll released on Friday (November 8, 2024) reveals that about two-thirds of German voters are calling for snap elections following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition earlier this week. This development has thrust Germany, Europe’s largest economy, into political chaos, sparking calls for a quick resolution to the ongoing government crisis.
Germany's political landscape was thrown into turmoil when Scholz's three-party alliance fell apart on Wednesday. The collapse came after months of infighting, culminating in a dramatic split. The government, which had been struggling with internal disagreements over economic and fiscal policies, suffered a severe blow when Scholz sacked his finance minister, Christian Lindner, from the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), effectively removing the smallest party from the coalition.
In response to the crisis, Scholz has vowed to continue leading a minority government. He plans to seek a confidence vote in mid-January, with the expectation that this could lead to snap elections in March. However, the political opposition and the majority of voters are calling for immediate elections, according to the latest survey. The poll, commissioned by public broadcaster ARD, found that 65 percent of respondents want elections as soon as possible, while only 33 percent support Scholz's proposed timeline.
The coalition's downfall has left the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens in a minority government, struggling to address both domestic and international challenges. As Scholz pushes for parliamentary action before Christmas, he is counting on support from the conservative CDU-CSU alliance to pass essential laws. However, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has made it clear that his party will not back any legislation unless Scholz agrees to an immediate confidence vote, potentially paving the way for elections as early as January.
Merz, who is positioning himself as a contender for the chancellorship, has insisted that new elections are the only viable solution to Germany's current political impasse.
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