BERLIN: The German parliament accepted Chancellor Olaf Scholz's invitation to withdraw its confidence in him and his government on Monday, clearing the way for the February 23 early election necessitated by the collapse of his government.
Scholz's three-party coalition fell apart last month after the pro-market Free Democrats quit in a row over debt, leaving his Social Democrats and the Greens without a parliamentary majority just when Germany faces adeepening economic crisis.
Under rules designed to prevent the instability that facilitated the rise of fascism in the 1930s, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier can only dissolve parliament and call elections if the chancellor calls, and loses, a confidence vote.
Only 207 of the parliament's 733 expressed confidence, while 394 withheld it.
"The motion has passed," said parliament president Baerbel Bas.
Huge rescue operation involving vessels, aircraft underway in sea near island of Gavdos
In a country sharply divided by partisan rhetoric, PM Han has been rare official whose career transcends party lines
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo becomes acting president after Yoon's impeachment
Thousands of South Koreans take to streets of Seoul to demand Yoon's resignation, jailing
Trump says daylight saving time is inconvenient, and very costly to United States
Macron will hope Bayrou can stave off no-confidence votes until at least July, when France will be able to hold new...
