Scholz: “I’m sure we’ll be ahead in the end”

https://ui-avatars.com/api/[email protected]&background=64&color=fff&font-size=0.5&rounded=false&format=pngby — December 16, 2024 in twitter

SGS Sievers Scholz question of trust

Chancellor Scholz after the vote of confidence in today's journal12/16/2024 | 7:49 mins

In the Bundestag, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has paved the way for new elections. As planned, he missed the absolute majority in the vote on the vote of confidence. In today's Journal he made it clear that he firmly expects elections on February 23rd – and also that the SPD will be successful.

I am pretty sure that the decision that the Bundestag passed today clears the way for early federal elections on February 23rd. And that's a good thing.

Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor

Scholz had previously suggested to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that the Bundestag be dissolved. Citizens must now decide what happens next with the country.

Chancellor defends break in traffic light coalition

“For me it was a time that took strength,” he said when asked about his own feelings. He now feels comfortable as a democrat with the idea that the citizens could decide. “I'm also looking forward to the election campaign.” Regarding the failure of the traffic light coalition, he said: “There was always a lot of argument that overshadowed everything and that's why in the end it was right to muster up the strength again to say, now we have to this will come to an end.”
Scholz question of trust

As expected, Scholz lost the vote of confidence he asked. This clears the way for the dissolution of parliament and new elections in February.12/16/2024 | 2:31 mins

Scholz is confident of victory

Despite the SPD's large gap to the Union in surveys, Scholz was optimistic:

The SPD will become the strongest party, that is my goal.

Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor

“I’m sure we’ll be ahead in the end,” said Scholz. He did not want to comment specifically on possible coalition partners: “These speculations make no sense at all.”

SGS carpenter

With the vote of confidence, Olaf Scholz cleared the way for new elections. Diana Zimmermann explains what will happen next in the Bundestag.12/16/2024 | 1:45 min

Chancellor distances himself from BSW

When asked about possible cooperation with the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), Scholz said that he had consciously said in the Bundestag that the basic consensus of the Federal Republic must be maintained. This includes the transatlantic partnership, cooperation in NATO and the EU. In the direction of BSW he said:

Anyone who fails after Russia cannot participate in a government.

Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor

Scholz: Merz likes to tell “nonsense”

Scholz reacted with ridicule to an anecdote that Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz told in the Bundestag. The Chancellor is said to have sworn in a debate in the EU Council, and he said on ZDF:

Fritze Merz likes to tell nonsense.

Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor

“That won’t be the only thing in which Merz behaves like this,” said Scholz. “The citizens will figure it out.” Tünkram is a Low German word used in northern Germany. It means that someone is talking nonsense.

Steinmeier has to dissolve the Bundestag for new elections

In the Bundestag, 207 members expressed their confidence in Scholz. This meant he missed the absolute majority of 367 votes. 394 parliamentarians voted against him, with 116 abstentions. The SPD parliamentary group expressed its confidence in him. The Green Party leadership recommended abstaining from the vote.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier now has the final decision on the dissolution of the Bundestag. But it is certain that Steinmeier will die.

Ticker for the election campaign

:Scholz asks the question of trust

Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked the Bundestag for a vote of confidence – thereby clearing the way for new elections. More in the election blog.

Live blog

A person holds a smartphone in his hand. The ZDFheute WhatsApp channel can be seen on it.

Source: ZDF

Do you always want to stay up to date? Then you've come to the right place with our ZDFheute WhatsApp channel. Whether it's for coffee in the morning, for lunch or at the end of the day – you get it the most important news directly to your smartphone. Take part in surveys or be inspired by our mini-podcast “Short Time Out”. Simply register for our WhatsApp channel here: ZDFheute WhatsApp channel.

You may also like...