Steinmeier Officially Dismisses Scholz and Cabinet
The Federal President of Germany thanked the outgoing government for decisive actions during crises and instructed it to continue working until a new cabinet is formed.
Photo: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, CC BY-SA 2.0
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the official resignation of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and 14 members of his cabinet — the corresponding statement was published on his YouTube channel.
The ceremony took place at Bellevue Palace after the first session of the new Bundestag. Steinmeier noted that Scholz's government acted decisively during the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the conflict in Gaza.
He particularly highlighted the Chancellor’s contributions to ensuring the country’s defense capability and energy security.
Despite the resignation, Steinmeier instructed Scholz to temporarily continue leading the country until a new government is appointed.
Coalition negotiations between parties are ongoing, but the timeline for their conclusion remains uncertain due to disagreements on migration, the economy, and taxation.
It is worth recalling that early elections were held in Germany on February 23 due to the collapse of the coalition. CDU/CSU won with their worst result in decades.
“Alternative for Germany” became second for the first time, leading in the eastern states. The SPD and Greens lost support, while the FDP and Wagenknecht's party dropped out of the Bundestag. Voter turnout was the highest since 1990.
It was previously reported that the British Prime Minister and German Chancellor held a meeting at the Chequers country residence near London, where they agreed on further steps to strengthen military support for Ukraine, and discussed European defense, migration policy, and cooperation with the European Union.