(de-news.net) – The Bundestag has withdrawn its confidence from Chancellor Olaf Scholz, thereby clearing the path for new elections. In a roll-call vote, 207 members expressed confidence in Scholz, while 116 abstained, and the remaining 394 voted against him. The majority required for confidence was 367 votes.

Following the vote, Chancellor Scholz requested President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve parliament. Scholz promptly met with the President at Schloss Bellevue shortly after the vote. President Steinmeier now has 21 days to decide on the dissolution of the parliament, after which new elections must be held within 60 days.

The proposed election date is February 23, 2025. Even after dissolution, the Bundestag remains capable of passing resolutions until the new plenary is constituted.