German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had hoped for this outcome when he called for the confidence vote, analysts say. His aim: to win fresh elections in February and come back with a stronger mandate.

Polls suggest that a February election will result in a rightward shift, at a moment when Europe’s largest economy is faltering.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost a no-confidence motion, paving the way for early general elections on February 23, 2025. Scholz’s defeat had been expected after his three-way coalition collapsed last month.