Pressure on Scholz grows: call for a quick decision
Published: Sunday, Nov 10th 2024, 17:00
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Following the end of the "traffic light" coalition, there are increasing calls for a quicker route to a new election: The CDU/CSU and FDP reiterated their call for Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to call a vote of confidence in the Bundestag quickly or as early as this Wednesday. Vice Chancellor and Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) expressed doubts about possible conditions for a quick vote of confidence and warned against too long a "hanging game".
On Monday, the federal and state electoral authorities want to discuss preparations for the early election of the Bundestag. In a letter to Scholz, Federal Election Commissioner Ruth Brand warned of "incalculable risks" due to shorter deadlines. According to Article 39, the Bundestag must be re-elected within 60 days of the dissolution of parliament by the Federal President. Brand wants to make full use of the deadline "in order to be able to take all necessary measures in a legally secure and timely manner."
Criticism after comments on paper shortage
In the letter, Brand pointed out logistical challenges such as the appointment of electoral committees, the recruitment and training of election workers, the organization of polling stations and, finally, possible problems with the procurement of paper.
The paper industry disagrees. "The answer is clear: yes. If orders are placed in good time, we can supply the paper needed for an early general election," said Alexander von Reibnitz, Managing Director of the German Paper Industry Association, to ZDFheute.de.
The CDU/CSU also contradicted Brand. "I can therefore only advise the Federal Election Commissioner not to allow herself to be instrumentalized by anyone," said Thorsten Frei, First Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, to Bild am Sonntag. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann told the newspaper that a country like Germany must be able to "hold elections within 60 days".
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, however, warned in the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" that the legal and practical requirements for a new election should be taken seriously.
Federal Returning Officer Brand rejected accusations of appropriation. The Federal Returning Officer is an independent electoral body and is not bound by instructions, but by the legal regulations, explained her spokesperson. "There were also no instructions or influence on the position of the Federal Returning Officer in connection with new elections," he clarified.
It is their task to ensure the proper preparation and conduct of nationwide elections and to point out risks. Brand had done this in a letter to the Federal Chancellor.
Merz wants a vote of confidence from Scholz as early as this Wednesday
In response to offers from the SPD, which had linked an earlier date to negotiations on proposed legislation, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who is also the CDU/CSU's candidate for chancellor, told Stern magazine: "We can talk about this as soon as Olaf Scholz has put the vote of confidence to the German Bundestag. His government statement on Wednesday would be a good opportunity for this."
The new SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch told the newspaper "Westfälische Nachrichten" that the Chancellor could possibly ask the question of confidence before Christmas. Of course, talks are now underway.
Following the break-up of his "traffic light" coalition, Scholz had shown himself willing to discuss the timing of a vote of confidence and the subsequent new election, having initially mentioned January 15 for the vote of confidence and then an early federal election at the end of March. On Friday, he called for an agreement in the Bundestag on which laws should still be passed.
The Greens express doubts about the Scholz plan
"Where I am very sceptical is whether these good or bad reasons - you may think what you like - should be mixed up with the implementation of political pet projects," said Habeck on Saturday in Neuhardenberg. "That doesn't seem to me to be appropriate to the outstanding importance of this vote of confidence, and that's how I look at it."
The Greens were open to an earlier re-election date. "We Greens could also live with an earlier date. We have done our work and are prepared for anything," outgoing party chairman Omid Nouripour told Bild am Sonntag.
Parties prepare for election campaign
Following the break-up of the Ampel coalition, the Greens want to present a "concise and sharpened election program" before the end of the year. It is about an offer that recognizes the successes of recent years and at the same time shows what is important now: Staying the course on climate protection, strengthening justice and defending freedom and peace, according to an urgent motion for the upcoming party conference from November 15 to 17 in Wiesbaden.
SPD Chairman Lars Klingbeil has announced that the election campaign will focus on Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz. "The question for voters will be: Scholz or Merz?" said Klingbeil in an interview with "Zeit Online". And: "Such polarization in the middle also helps against the populists."
Liberals find the Chancellor untrustworthy
The FDP once again called on Scholz to quickly clear the way for a new election. FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai told the German Press Agency that the Chancellor is now delaying this with reference to national political responsibility.
"The Free Democrats had made him an offer to bring the coalition to an orderly end together and to complete time-critical projects quickly. However, he decided otherwise," said Djir-Sarai. During the failed negotiations to save the traffic light coalition, Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner had called for an orderly new election and Scholz had dismissed him.
With a view to options for the FDP after the early Bundestag elections, Lindner wrote on Platform X on Sunday that the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung had asked him whether he could imagine governing with the SPD and Greens again. "Since fundamental reforms were not possible in this worsening economic crisis, I will say it very clearly: a traffic light coalition is out of the question."
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