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olaf scholz

Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz (CDU) is standing in the Bundestag election for Chancellor. CDU leader Friedrich Merz has failed the first round of voting in the Bundestag election for Chancellor.
What We're Watching

Friedrich Merz fails to secure chancellorship in shock vote

Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz did not become Germany’s chancellor as planned on Tuesday after at least 18 members of his coalition either abstained or voted against him.

Germany's close election limits its ability to lead Europe
Quick Take

Germany's close election limits its ability to lead Europe

Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: Germany’s election results are in, with the far-right AfD party expanding their vote share to second place. Ian Bremmer looks at what the outcome means for the future of Europe and the transatlantic alliance.

Ukraine hopes for Europe's help as US negotiates with Russia
Quick Take

Ukraine hopes for Europe's help as US negotiates with Russia

Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: With Ukraine caught between US-Russia negotiations and limited European support, Ian Bremmer examines the shifting alliances. Can Europe step up? Find out in this Quick Take.

​ The Bundestag has withdrawn its confidence in Chancellor Scholz, paving the way for a new election on February 23, 2025.
What We're Watching

Germany’s government collapsed, what now?

Germany’s government collapsed on Monday after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence — one he called himself, expecting to lose.

​Following the end of the "traffic light" coalition, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has submitted a request to the president of the Bundestag for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag.
Viewpoint

Viewpoint: Germany seeks new political leadership to address economic crisis

Faced with a political impasse preventing action on acute economic and geopolitical challenges, the German parliament will hold a vote of confidence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government on Dec. 16. We asked Eurasia Group expert Jan Techau to explain what set off this chain of events and where it is likely to lead ahead of February's snap elections.

Germany faces political uncertainty after coalition collapse
GZERO Europe

Germany faces political uncertainty after coalition collapse

What does Germany's coalition collapse mean for Chancellor Scholz, the country, and Europe as a whole? Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden and co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, shares his perspective on European politics from Stockholm, Sweden.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leaves the Bellevue Palace, after he sacked Christian Lindner.
What We're Watching

Germany’s governing coalition crumbles over budget battle

Germany’s governing coalition collapsed on Thursday after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner, head of the pro-business Free Democrats and a linchpin in his majority, likely spurring a vote of confidence.

​Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) attends the wreath-laying ceremony at Fronhof in memory of the victims of the knife attack at the Solingen town festival. I
What We're Watching

What do East German elections mean for next year’s national election?

The far right prevailed in East Germany over the weekend, with the Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, winning its first-ever election in Thuringia and nearly winning in Saxony.

Participants in a left-wing demonstration walk along a street with a banner reading "AfD ban now!". Several hundred people protest against the AfD's performance in the state elections in Saxony.
What We're Watching

AfD makes historic gains in eastern Germany

German voters delivered the hard right a significant victory in Sunday’s election, as Bjoern Hoecke’s Alternative for Germany party captured 32.8% of the vote in the central-eastern state of Thuringia.

Olaf Scholz popping out of a toaster, surrounded by burnt toast.
by ian bremmer

Why Olaf Scholz smells like toast

When Olaf Scholz replaced Angela Merkel as Germany’s chancellor in 2021, hopes were high, in Germany and beyond, that a shift to new leadership might reinvigorate the nation at the heart of Europe.