Berlin: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz formally requested parliament on Wednesday to hold a vote of confidence on December 16, paving the way for early federal elections next year following the collapse of his governing coalition.

Germany’s policymaking has stalled since Scholz's coalition—comprising the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and Free Democrats (FDP)—fell apart last month, leaving him at the helm of a minority government.

If Scholz loses the confidence vote, as widely anticipated, he will need to ask the president to dissolve parliament, triggering new elections. An agreement with the opposition sets February 23 as the date for the next election.

"In a democracy, it is the voters who chart the course for the future," Scholz said in a brief statement, emphasizing the importance of democratic choice. "Through this election, they will determine how we address the pressing challenges ahead. Let us have the courage to invest boldly in our country's strength and future."

Scholz called on lawmakers to work together in the weeks before the election to pass critical pending measures. These include maintaining a cap on electricity prices to support Germany’s struggling industries, addressing fiscal drag, and increasing child benefits.

"A few key decisions cannot be delayed," Scholz stressed during his remarks in Berlin, shortly after submitting his request for the confidence vote. He referenced recent discussions with leaders from Volkswagen and Ford, both planning significant cost reductions, as evidence of the urgent need to stabilize electricity costs. "The warnings about rising energy prices are loud and clear," he added.

This move comes amidst growing political turbulence in Europe, with last week’s defeat of French Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a no-confidence vote underscoring instability in both of the continent's leading economies.

Polls indicate the opposition conservatives are poised to win the upcoming election, with recent surveys placing them at 31%. The far-right Alternative for Germany trails at 18%, followed by Scholz's SPD at 17%, and the Greens at 13%. The FDP and the newly formed Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance remain just under the 5% threshold required to enter parliament, although analysts note that voter preferences remain fluid.