Germany’s Government Was Dissolved

The government collapsed as Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in Parliament, deepening a crisis of leadership across Europe at a time of mounting economic and security challenges, including the war in Ukraine. The vote to dissolve the government, which passed 394 to 207, with 116 abstentions, leaves Europe’s largest economy in the hands of a caretaker government ahead of elections early next year. Scholz had little choice but to call for the confidence vote after his three-party coalition splintered last month, leaving him without a parliamentary majority to pass laws or a budget. Elections are now expected to be held on Feb. 23, in what would be only the fourth snap vote in modern German history. Looking ahead: Seven parties will enter the campaign for Parliament with a realistic chance of gaining seats. The conservative Christian Democratic Union is poised to win the most, but some parties on the political fringes — especially on the right — are likely to have strong showings, according to polls