Germany on The Brink: Early Election Looms

Chancellor Olaf Scholz initiates an early election process in Germany by calling for a parliamentary confidence vote. This comes after his coalition government collapsed amidst economic revitalization disputes. A looming parliamentary election is scheduled for February 23. Scholz's Social Democrats are trailing behind in polls.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has formally set Germany on the path to an early election, signaling political turbulence by requesting a confidence vote in the Bundestag. This decision follows the collapse of his three-party coalition, triggered by disagreements on rejuvenating Germany's stagnant economy.

The confidence vote, scheduled for next Monday, is a crucial step. If Scholz loses, which analysts predict, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will decide whether to dissolve the parliament. The prospect of an early election now looms large, with February 23 set as the tentative date.

Polls suggest the center-left Social Democrats trail the opposition Union bloc. The stakes for Scholz are high, as the Greens and the far-right Alternative for Germany position themselves in the race, albeit with different challenges and prospects.

(With inputs from agencies.)