German President Dissolves Parliament, Calls for Early Election in February | WPN World People News

On the 27th, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced that he has officially ordered the dissolution of the Bundestag, with a general election scheduled for February 23, 2024.

On December 16, the "Traffic Light Coalition," a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, failed to secure a vote of confidence in the Bundestag. Following this, Chancellor Scholz recommended to President Steinmeier that the parliament be dissolved and a new election be held.

The "Traffic Light Coalition" consists of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), symbolized by the color red, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), represented by yellow, and the Green Party, represented by green. However, due to internal divisions, the FDP withdrew from the coalition last month, leaving only the SPD and the Greens in the government. Together, these two parties hold 207 and 117 seats, respectively, in the Bundestag, which falls short of the 367 seats needed for a majority, making it difficult to pass legislation.

This marks the fourth time since World War II that the German parliament has been dissolved before the end of its term. According to the German constitution, only the president has the authority to dissolve the Bundestag and call for an election. The president can dissolve parliament within 21 days of the chancellor's recommendation, and an election must take place within 60 days of the president's announcement.

President Steinmeier has confirmed that the election will be held on February 23, 2024, and emphasized that the country needs a stable majority and a capable government. The results of this election are expected to have a profound impact on Germany's political landscape in the years to come.