The hours in the German capital are dramatic. The three-party government has fallen, the budget is up in the air. The opposition is now seeking elections.
Answer from Berlin
The political processes in Berlin have been intensifying since yesterday, with political uncertainty being the only certain fact in Berlin at the moment. Chancellor Olaf Solz has announced that he will ask for a vote of confidence before the Bundestag on January 15, and if he does not get it, as everything seems to indicate, early elections must be called within 60 days, ie until the 15th of March. . They were originally scheduled for September 2025.
Meanwhile, after Finance Minister Christian Lindner and the Liberals left the coalition, Olaf Solz is left alone with the Social Democrats and the Greens without the necessary majority in parliament to pass the difficult 2025 budget.
In reality, this is the time for a weak minority government that won’t even be able to do the basics until March. Already yesterday, he also asked for the support of the Christian Democrats in the form of a government of tolerance, but to pass the 2025 budget, which the Christian Democrats refuse, however.
The Christian Democrats are pushing for elections
The leader of the Christian Democrats, Friedrich Merz, speaking from Berlin, is pressuring Chancellor Olaf Solz to ask for a vote of confidence from parliament immediately, and not in mid-January. “At the beginning of next week at the latest” he said, trying to speed up the appeal to the polls soon, since his party is consistently first in all polls and he has already announced that he will be a chancellor candidate.
“There is no reason to postpone the early elections now,” he said, stressing that Germany cannot continue in the coming months with a government without a parliamentary majority. On Thursday, Friedrich Mertz will meet with Chancellor Olaf Solz to discuss all possible scenarios. He has already met the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Steinmeier’s role is crucial
Since yesterday, continuous meetings have also taken place at the Bellevue Presidential Palace, and the role of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the coming months is considered decisive to ensure state continuity and unity.
Speaking as an emergency from the Presidency on Thursday morning, he emphasized the fact that the announcement of early elections was a rare thing in the history of Germany after the war. But, as he pointed out, the German Constitution contains relevant provisions and provides institutional solutions. “It’s not the end of the world”, as he said, asking for calm for the next steps and referring to the Constitution.
Liberal Transport supports Soltz
In the next few hours, the official confirmation of Soltz’s decision to dismiss Christian Lindner is expected, as well as the formal confirmation of the resignation of the other Liberal ministers.
The only exception is the Liberal Minister of Transport Volker Vissing, who decided, contrary to Lindner’s “line” to stay in the government, after consulting Chancellor Olaf Solz, who asked for his support. At the same time, he announced that he was leaving the Liberal Party.
Meanwhile, the name of Christian Lindner’s successor in the finance department has already been announced. This is the economist Jörg Kukis, Olaf Solz’s trusted adviser in the chancellorship in matters related to fiscal and economic policy. Cookis is expected to be appointed today, soon after Lindner’s ouster becomes official. <img alt="" data-credit="" data-displaysize="" data-imageratio="1" data-watermark="" src="http://logc279.xiti.com/hit.xiti?s=531599&s2=14&p=gri-VEU-Volltext-Capital-11783-xml-mrss::%CE%98%CE%95%CE%9C%CE%91%CE%A4%CE%91%3A%3A%CE%A0%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE::%CE%93%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%3A%20%CE%A4%CE%BF%20%CF%84%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82%20%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82%20%CF%83%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B3%CE%BA%CF%85%CE%B2%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.%20%CE%9A%CE%B1%CE%B9%20%CF%84%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%B1%20%CF%84%CE%B9%3B&di=&an=&ac=&x1=1&x2=14&x3=70721799&x4=10508&x5=%CE%93%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%3A%20%CE%A4%CE%BF%20%CF%84%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82%20%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82%20%CF%83%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B3%CE%BA%CF%85%CE%B2%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7%CF%82.%20%CE%9A%CE%B1%CE%B9%20%CF%84%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%B1%20%CF%84%CE%B9%3B&x6=1&x7=%2Fel%2F%CE%B3%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82-%CF%84%CE% rn
Source: German wave
Interviewer: Welcome to Time.news. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with political analyst Dr. Sarah Müller, an expert on German politics. Sarah, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Müller: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here!
Interviewer: Let’s dive right in. The recent political turmoil in Berlin has certainly captured a lot of attention. Can you give us an overview of what has led to the current situation?
Dr. Müller: Absolutely. The German capital is witnessing a significant political upheaval. The coalition government, which consisted of three parties — the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Free Democrats — has effectively collapsed. This was largely triggered by Finance Minister Christian Lindner and his party’s withdrawal from the coalition, leaving Chancellor Olaf Solz without a parliamentary majority to pass crucial legislation, particularly the budget for 2025.
Interviewer: It sounds dire for the chancellor. What are the implications of this minority government situation?
Dr. Müller: A minority government is particularly weak, especially in a system like Germany’s, where consensus and coalitions are key to governance. Solz is now reliant on support from the opposition, namely the Christian Democrats, who have shown reluctance to cooperate. This not only makes passing the budget challenging but also leads to increased political instability, which can impact economic policy and governance more broadly.
Interviewer: That raises an interesting point about the Christian Democrats. Friedrich Merz has been vocal about pushing for early elections. What’s driving this call?
Dr. Müller: Merz sees this as an opportunity. His party is currently leading in the polls, and by pressing for swift elections, he aims to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding Solz’s government. The Christian Democrats have a vested interest in forming a new government, and Merz’s ambition to become chancellor further fuels this urgency. He believes Germany cannot function effectively without a strong, majority-backed government.
Interviewer: In light of this, how crucial is the role of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in navigating these turbulent waters?
Dr. Müller: Steinmeier’s role is indeed pivotal. As the head of state, he has the constitutional authority to ensure continuity and stability during this transitional phase. His emphasis on the provisions of the German constitution suggests he is prepared to guide the country through this turmoil and reassure citizens that there are mechanisms in place to handle such crises. His calls for calm demonstrate the importance of stability in the face of potential early elections.
Interviewer: And what about Olaf Solz’s potential next steps? You mentioned a vote of confidence scheduled for January 15. What happens if he loses that vote?
Dr. Müller: If Solz loses the vote, he must call for early elections within 60 days, essentially by March 15. This could dramatically shift the political landscape. Constituents will be watching closely to see if Solz can regain leverage before then. The appointment of Jörg Kukis as the new finance minister signifies his attempt to stabilize his government and move forward, but he will need to rally support fast.
Interviewer: What are the broader implications for Germany if these early elections happen?
Dr. Müller: Should early elections occur, it may lead to a significant realignment of power within the Bundestag. The outcome could determine Germany’s political direction for the coming years, particularly in relation to key issues such as economic policy, climate commitments, and Europe’s geopolitical stance. An election could either restore a stronger coalition or potentially lead to a more fragmented parliament, complicating governance further.
Interviewer: It sounds like Germany is at a critical crossroads. Thank you, Dr. Müller, for shedding light on these developments!
Dr. Müller: Thank you for the engaging discussion. It’s certainly a fascinating time in German politics, and I look forward to seeing how things unfold!
