Scholz: vote of confidence also possible before Christmas
Published: Monday, Nov 11th 2024, 00:30
Zurück zu Live Feed
In the event of an agreement with the opposition, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is now also prepared to call for a quicker vote of confidence in the Bundestag. This is the prerequisite for a new parliamentary election. "It's no problem at all for me to call a vote of confidence before Christmas if everyone agrees," said Scholz on the ARD program "Caren Miosga". Formally, he as Chancellor would have to initiate this step. However, if there is an agreement between SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich and CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz, he will respect this.
Scholz wants to make it possible if an agreement is reached
"But I would like to say explicitly where the parliament agrees, the members of governments and oppositions, especially the democratic parties: I will assume this and make it possible," said the Chancellor in response.
However, the necessary democratic steps and technical preparations for a proper new election must always be taken into account. Scholz said in the program: "None of us, not you, not me, not anyone else, wants anything to happen like in Berlin, that we have to repeat elections."
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 election at the end of March. On Friday, he called for an agreement in the Bundestag on which laws should still be passed.
Mützenich takes ownership of linking content and deadline issue
Mützenich had previously signaled to the opposition that he would make concessions regarding the election date, but called for agreements on which projects would be implemented together. "Both challenges can be tackled together and jointly," he told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. He cited specific examples such as increasing child benefit, securing the Deutschlandticket, reducing the burden on industry and protecting the constitutional court. If such an agenda were agreed, it should be "easy to find a sensible date for the election", he said.
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 issue is to be discussed in the Bundestag on Tuesday
In the discussion about the path to a new election, the SPD and Green parliamentary groups want a special public meeting of the election review committee on Tuesday. The aim should be to "discuss with the Federal Returning Officer when, in her view and with her practical experience, the new election can take place at the earliest", according to a letter of request to Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD), which is available to the German Press Agency in Berlin. The meeting must take place at the requested time in order to "take into account the interests of the proper preparation and conduct of the election in the ongoing public debate".
Warning of a breakdown election like in Berlin
The parliamentary secretary of the SPD parliamentary group, Johannes Fechner, told dpa: "We also want citizens to be able to vote on a new government soon. However, a Bundestag election must be well prepared, because we must not risk the kind of breakdowns and chaos seen in the 2021 Bundestag election in Berlin." And: "When determining the election date, we must therefore take concerns and advice from election organizers seriously."
Scholz refuted the accusation that he had deliberately caused the break-up of his traffic light coalition. "I did not provoke him," said the SPD politician in the ARD program. He had fought until the end to keep the three-party constellation of SPD, Greens and FDP together, but ultimately this had not been possible. "I put up with the fact that I kept putting on a good face for the sake of compromise and cooperation, sometimes even a rather nasty one. But when it's over, it has to be over."
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 Returning Officer 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.
©Keystone/SDA
German 
English 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic