German President Opens the Way for New Elections

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the dissolution of the Bundestag today, and thus cleared the way for new elections to take place on February 23. He was reacting to the collapse of the coalition on November 6 and to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s lost vote of confidence in the Bundestag on December 16.

According to the vote of confidence, the current government no longer has a majority, but I have not been able to identify any majorities for a differently composed government in the talks either. I am therefore convinced that new elections are now the right way forward for the good of our country. … Our democracy works, even in times of transition.
—Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Warning of outside influence: He also warned of present dangers to democracy in the scheduled election:

Outside influence is a danger to democracy. Whether it is covert, as was recently evident in the elections in Romania, or open and blatant, as is currently being practiced particularly intensively on platform X. I am resolutely opposed to all external attempts to exert influence.

Expect the unexpected: While many hope for a smooth process, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has warned:

Many Germans wanted new elections as soon as possible. As a compromise, Scholz moved them forward to February 23.

Yet even these elections seem unlikely to solve Germany’s leadership crisis. Polls suggest they will only produce another weak, divided government.

There is a big leadership vacuum. Germans know something dramatic must be done, and quickly! You see this in recent election results with the rise of fringe parties like the Alternative für Deutschland. Voters are showing themselves willing to embrace out-of-the-ordinary politics. They are clamoring for a strong leader! …

I believe these recent events will lead to the installation of a strong leader very soon.

To learn more, read “After Trump’s Victory, Watch Germany.”