German President: I am prepared to call new elections

German President Steinmeier hands over dismissal papers to the outgoing German Finance Minister Lindner in Berlin

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives a statement, after German Chancellor Scholz sacked Finance Minister Christian Lindner following a meeting with the heads of the so-called "Traffic Light Coalition" between the Social Democratic party SPD, the Greens and FDP parties, at Bellevue palace, in Berlin, November 7, 2024. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Source: REUTERS

Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday he was prepared to dissolve parliament and clear the way for new elections following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition, warning all parties to act responsibly.

Scholz said he would submit to a confidence vote in parliament after the departure of Finance Minister Christian Lindner's Free Democrats left his government without a legislative majority. Only after a lost confidence vote does Steinmeier have the power to call new elections.

"Now is not the time for tactics and trickery, but for reason and responsibility," Steinmeier told the news conference.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters