Chancellor Scholz's vote of confidence in the Bundestag

Të hënën Bundestagu vendos për çështjen e votëbesimit që shtron kancelari gjerman, Olaf Scholz. Zgjedhjet e parakohshme janë planifikuar më 23 shkurt.

2024-12-16 15:14:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The early elections scheduled for February 23 are being debated everywhere in Germany. But their development requires following certain procedures related to Germany's electoral legal framework. Key steps: The chancellor first raises a vote of confidence in the Bundestag, and must lose it, which is expected to happen on Monday. (16.12.) Then the federal president dissolves the parliament. As a result, new elections must be held within 60 days.

How does the voting process work, what happens after it?

In accordance with Article 68 of the German Basic Law, the Federal Chancellor submits a motion to the Bundestag to request a vote of confidence in him. Olaf Scholz did this in writing on 11 December 2024 and sent it to the President of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas.

According to Article 68 paragraph 2 of the German Basic Law, the vote on the Chancellor's request can be made no earlier than 48 hours after its acceptance. The vote of confidence takes place on Monday in the Bundestag. If the chancellor did not receive an absolute majority of 367 votes in favor in this vote, it means that he loses the vote of confidence. Possible abstentions by MPs would have the same effect as a vote against. A vote by name must be made, and it is publicly known which deputy and how he voted. After a loss of confidence, the chancellor can suggest to the Federal President that the Bundestag be dissolved. Scholz has already announced that he will do so. The federal president must do this from Monday within 21 days.

Chancellor Scholz's vote of confidence in the Bundestag

Federal President Steinmeier can do this, but not necessarily. The main criterion is whether a politically unstable situation is created. In his speech on November 7, 2024, shortly after the coalition collapsed, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that a stable majority and a government capable of acting would be the benchmark for his decision. From this it can be concluded that he is leaning towards the dissolution of the Bundestag.

If the Federal President dissolves the Bundestag, there must be new elections within 60 days of its dissolution. This is stated in article 39, paragraph 1, sentence 4 of the basic law. The federal election day is officially determined by the Federal President in accordance with the Federal Election Law. In Germany, February 23 is defined.

Chancellor Scholz's vote of confidence in the Bundestag

Will the chancellor continue in office after losing the vote of confidence?
The loss of confidence and the dissolution of the Bundestag do not change the fact that the chancellor and his government are in business as usual. The function of the Federal Chancellor ends only when a new Bundestag convenes after new elections (Article 69 of the Basic Law). Even then, Chancellor Scholz remains in office at the request of the Federal President, until a newly elected Bundestag has chosen the new chancellor./ DW