German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has agreed to the schedule presented to him by the parliamentary faction leaders of the SPD, the Greens and the Union on Tuesday. Shortly after New Year’s Eve, a new government is elected in Germany.
A spokeswoman said on Tuesday that Steinmeier welcomed the fact that parliamentary groups had agreed on a timetable for a vote on the confidence vote in the Bundestag on December 16. “Based on today’s assessment, he considers February 23, 2025 as a realistic date for new elections,” she added.
Opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU), SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich and Green Party faction leaders Britta Haßelmann and Katharina Dröge took part in the conversation.
Steinmeier wants to decide ‘quickly’.
According to the constitution, the Federal President has the role of dissolving the Bundestag and calling new elections. Steinmeier “made it clear that if the Bundestag withdraws its confidence in the Chancellor, it will quickly decide on a dissolution.”
Steinmeier will hold talks with the chairmen of all parties represented in the Bundestag before the Bundestag is dissolved. “Transparency and integrity of the electoral process are a crucial condition for confidence in democracy,” his spokeswoman said.
A tight schedule
By agreeing to the timetable presented by the parliamentary groups, the Federal President renounces the full use of the deadlines for the new election procedure laid down in the Basic Law.
The Basic Law gives the Federal President 21 days to consider dissolving the Bundestag after a failed confidence vote. If he dissolves parliament, a new parliament must be elected after sixty days at the latest. In total, the maximum term is 81 days. There are only 69 days between the day of the confidence vote on December 16 and the planned election date on February 23.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
