German president dissolves parliament, sets February 2025 election date: Video
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially dissolved the Bundestag on Friday, confirming that the country will hold an early general election on February 23, 2025.
The move follows the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government last month, triggered by deep internal divisions within his coalition over how to address the country’s economic challenges, the AFP reports.
The decision also comes in the wake of a deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in the western city of Trier last week, which has reignited national debates over security and immigration policies. The tragedy, which claimed several lives and left many injured, has intensified public calls for stronger measures to prevent such attacks and control immigration.
In a televised address, President Steinmeier emphasised the importance of restoring political stability in the country. He urged all political parties to engage in a "campaign of respect and decency," stressing that the upcoming election should focus on Germany's future direction rather than further divisions.
"Dear fellow citizens," Steinmeier said, "I have decided today to dissolve the twentieth German Bundestag and to schedule new elections for the twenty-third of February next year. A letter to this effect has just been handed over to the President of the German Bundestag."
The collapse of Scholz's coalition—comprising the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and Free Democrats (FDP)—was the result of deepening tensions over economic recovery strategies, with factions unable to reach a consensus on the best path forward for Europe's largest economy. Scholz's government had faced growing public dissatisfaction, with rising inflation, energy prices, and unemployment contributing to the political crisis.
