German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has indicated his willingness to negotiate an earlier election date in exchange for opposition support on key legislation that could enable elections sooner than anticipated.
This represents a notable departure from Scholz’s previous statement on Wednesday, 6 November, when he announced plans to call a no-confidence vote on 15 January to ensure elections “by the end of March” after the coalition government dissolved.
On Friday, 8 November, Scholz emphasized that the democratic parties in the Bundestag should collaborate to determine which laws could be enacted by the end of the year.
“In light of a potential early election date, this agreement could clarify when it would be appropriate to initiate a vote of no confidence in the Bundestag,” Scholz stated at an informal EU summit in Budapest.
The Chancellor also stressed the need for a measured, calm approach to setting an election date. However, CDU leader Friedrich Merz reported that Scholz had resisted calls for an immediate vote of confidence during their Thursday meeting.
While constitutional law does not compel Scholz to call a vote of no confidence before the scheduled election date of 28 September 2025, the minority government’s ability to pass critical legislation is contingent on opposition votes.
Scholz declined to specify whether there are particular legislative priorities that would prompt him to advocate for early elections.
Following Scholz’s statement, Germany’s Federal Electoral Office issued a caution against early elections. Its head, Ruth Brand, warned that setting “dates and deadlines” around Christmas or New Year’s Eve would make essential election preparations “nearly impossible.”
By law, any snap election must occur within 60 days of the dissolution of parliament or 21 days after a vote of no confidence.
