(de-news.net) – Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is ready to negotiate a date for the vote of confidence in the Bundestag and a possible new election. He stressed that the date must meet the requirements of the Federal Election Commissioner in order to ensure a fair election. Almost all opposition parties want a faster vote of confidence and earlier new elections. CDU leader Merz is calling for new elections on January 19th to be held before the inauguration of the new US president. However, Scholz had initially only announced new elections for March and wants to pass a number of important laws beforehand. Federal Election Commissioner Ruth Brand has meanwhile warned of the risks of hasty new elections, especially during the Christmas period.

After the end of the traffic light coalition, the new red-green minority government formed its cabinet on Thursday. Jörg Kukies (SPD) will take over the Ministry of Finance, while the non-party Transport Minister Volker Wissing will also head the Justice Department. Cem Özdemir (Greens) will take over the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education. The previous FDP ministers Stark-Watzinger and Buschmann resigned and were dismissed by Federal President Steinmeier. Wissing will remain in the cabinet after leaving the FDP. Wissing stressed that he would not join any other party and that his decision was personal. He is considered one of the architects of the traffic light coalition. Steinmeier praised the outgoing ministers for their services.

Le Minister of the Economy Robert Habeck (Greens) has since announced that he wants to be his party’s top candidate for the next federal election. He is apparently also aiming for the chancellorship. He stressed that some trust was lost due to the failure of the traffic light government and wants to establish a leadership role. His candidacy has yet to be confirmed at the Greens’ party conference.

Christian Lindner, for his part, wants to be the FDP’s top candidate again and is aiming to return to the Federal Ministry of Finance. He is open to an alliance with the Union, but is not making any firm coalition statements. Lindner stressed that the Scholz government is over and that the country needs a new beginning. FDP veteran Wolfgang Kubicki still believes that coalitions between the FDP and SPD are possible, but not with Olaf Scholz as chancellor. He criticizes Scholz’s behavior towards the FDP and wishes Wissing success in his future government work.