The date of early German elections has been determined

According to RCO News Agency, the new date represents a compromise between the center-left chancellor Olaf Schultz and conservative opposition leader Friedrich Mertz. Schultz is expected to hold a confidence vote before Christmas, paving the way for new elections in February. The vote of confidence is likely to be held on December 18.

The date must be officially confirmed by the president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, but this is considered a formality.

Schultz’s fractured three-party coalition collapsed last week after months of escalating turmoil over sharp disagreements over spending and how to stimulate Germany’s ailing economy, when the chancellor left his finance minister, Christian Lindner, in a months-long tussle over how Filling the multi-billion euro hole in the national budget.

Schultz initially said he would hold a vote of confidence on January 15, paving the way for new elections by the end of March. But leaders of other parties, including Friedrich Mertz, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), urged Schultz to speed up the timetable.

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