German leader Scholz to seek December confidence vote

He had initially wanted to have an early election only by late March - before the vote that is regularly scheduled for September 2025.

However, the centre-right opposition pushed for a quicker vote in the parliament to speed up the next election. 

In the end, party leaders across the political spectrum agreed on Wednesday on the two dates for the vote of confidence and the new election.

Scholz on Wednesday also appealed to parties in parliament to pass measures in the time left before the election, stressing that Germans did not need to make a choice between security and prosperity.

He said there should be agreement on increasing child benefit and tackling fiscal drag. 

Scholz also said Europe had a responsibility towards Ukraine but that aid money should not lead to cuts in pensions or care at home.

"Let us work together for the good of the country until the new election," he said.

with Reuters