German chancellor Olaf Scholz confirms vote of confidence date, paving way for 23 February election – Europe live | Germany

Kate Connolly

Friedrich Merz, chancellor in waiting, takes to the podium, and it’s clear from the start that he is trying to separate himself from Scholz as much as possible, even as Scholz called on him to help his government to push through outstanding legislation which was for the good of the nation.

Merz slapped Scholz down saying he was “not from this world”, but “from another cosmos”. He criticised his behaviour in the run up to his government’s collapse. Merz, a lawyer and investment banker who has been waiting for this moment his whole political career, is presenting himself as the diametrical opposite of Scholz, in what is effectively the opening salvo of what is going to be a heated election campaign.

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrats, is now speaking and getting a warm reception from some in the chamber.

He was officially nominated as his party’s candidate in September, putting him in poll position to be Germany’s next chancellor.

A former BlackRock executive, he is a fiscal conservative, who is seen as impulsive even by his allies.

Kate Connolly

Towards the end of his speech, in which Scholz avoided being interrupted by cat calls and jibes from the AfD benches, he spoke of having just read a book by US author and journalist Ezra Klein, Why We Are Polarised – an analysis of political polarisation. He warns of what has happened in the US being repeated in Germany, but saying as a democrat, he will not let that happen. He says polarisation is the “political business model” of certain parties in the Bundestag, a pointed reference to the far-right AfD.

Scholz confirms no Taurus jets for Ukraine

Kate Connolly

In his speech, which has just finished, Scholz – referred to a telephone call he held with US president-elect Trump on Sunday evening, describing it as “a good discussion”. Defending his government’s record he touches in particular on its support of Ukraine, saying Germany has contributed to helping the conflict not to escalate. But he confirms he will not bow to demands for Germany to deliver Taurus jets to Ukraine, even as Merz has suggested he is planning to do just that if he becomes chancellor.

He is receiving warm, but certainly not rapturous support, from the benches of his SPD.

Scholz has finished speaking and a large part of the chamber warmly applauded.

Now it’s Friedrich Merz…

Kate Connolly

Scholz is speaking in a confident and defiant tone, justifying his decision to oust finance minister Christian Lindner, saying it was right, even as he acknowledges, it has led to a change in Germany’s political landscape.

He calls on Germany’s democrats, regardless of their political persuasion, to work together on issues that are important for Germany, “which cannot wait”. He touches on issues his government is still working on, including an initiative to boost growth, plans to increase child support payments and measures to protect the country’s highest instance, the constitutional court.

The members of the AfD – whose benches to the right of Scholz are full – is loud and rowdy, expressing its disapproval of Scholz.

Kate Connolly

Olaf Scholz stresses he’ll need the support of the opposition CDU to push through remaining government reforms before parliament is dissolved. He strongly implies that if these issues – including tax reforms proposed by his former finance minister and an increase in child support payments – are not passed, the CDU will be to blame.

Olaf Scholz has said there are “urgent topics” where Germany’s parties can reach agreement before the elections. He calls on parties to agree to increase child benefits, and legislate to tackle fiscal drag – when inflation lifts taxpayers into paying higher rates.

Significantly, he also calls for stronger protection of the Germany’s constitutional court.

The court is seen as vulnerable if the far-right and radical left win a third of seats in parliament after elections, as polls suggest they might.

Mainstream parties fear that the far-right Alternative für Deutschland and the nationalist far-left Sahra Wagenknecht alliance could unite to block appointments to the court, slowing down the wheels of justice.

Kate Connolly

Scholz has taken the podium to applause and immediately said it was “necessary, right and unavoidable” to sack his finance minister, and he is grateful that the new election date is set for the end of February.

Scholz confirms vote of confidence dates, paving way for elections

Kate Connolly

Olaf Scholz – unusually fiery and determined in tone – confirms that he will submit an application for a vote of confidence in his government on December 11, to be held on 16 December, to pave way for the 23 February election. “Let us, for the good of the country, work together until the new election,” he appeals to members of the Bundestag, insisting his government will continue its work, despite only having a minority since the departure of the FDP.

Here are some images from the Bundestag ahead of the debate.

Olaf Scholz looks relaxed as he talks to Friedrich Merz, the man who could replace him as chancellor, and Christian Lindner, the erstwhile finance minister he fired last week.

As Kate Connolly writes

The Bundestag is full to the rafters for this significant occasion. Everyone who is anyone is inside the glass-domed hall. Scholz, who has greeted his party and government colleagues with a handshake, is due to take to the podium at 1.20pm local time. He has also shaken the hands of Friedrich Merz, his arch rival and likely future German chancellor, as well as his former finance minister Christian Lindner, who is sitting shoulder to shoulder with Merz. The mood between the men is surprisingly cordial.

Here is another image of Lindner, who has said he expects Friedrich Merz to be Germany’s next chancellor.

And here is defence minister Boris Pistorius, who is far more popular than Scholz and is the favoured SPD chancellor candidate for some, but not expected to run.

MPs in the Bundestag have risen to their feet, as Bundestag session opens.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to speak at 13.30 CET/ 12.30 GMT.

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