German chancellor confirms vote of confidence date, giving path to 23 February election, as Friedrich Merz attempts to create distance between parties

The German parliament is bracing itself for a showdown of its main players, following a week of political turmoil. Sparked by the collapse of the German coalition over a lengthy row focused on how to balance the books and fill a multi-billion Euro hole in next year’s budget, Europe’s biggest economy now faces weeks of political uncertainty as it gears up for snap elections. These are due to take place on February 23, following a vote of confidence on December 16, which Olaf Scholz, the chancellor is expected to lose, paving the way for the elections.

The eyes of many European political observers are on the parliament this lunchtime. Scholz is due to speak for half an hour, and is expected to attempt to justify why he considered it necessary to oust his finance minister Christian Lindner, of the pro-business FDP, thus triggering the early election, particularly at a time of national crisis, inextricably linked with an array of unprecedented global challenges, not least events unfolding in Washington following the re-election there of president elect Donald Trump.