If Scholz loses the vote, he will on Monday afternoon propose to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve the Bundestag, the chancellor told reporters on Wednesday. “If the president follows my proposal, the voters will be able to elect a new Bundestag on February 23. That is my goal,” he said.

Germany's embattled Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday launched the process expected to lead to early elections on February 23 in Europe's biggest economy, which is mired in political and financial troubles.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had few alternatives after his three-party coalition broke up, is widely expected to lose when Parliament takes up the measure on Monday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sent a request to parliament on Wednesday to hold a vote of confidence on Dec. 16, setting a path to an early federal election next year after the collapse of his coalition.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz requested the vote be held early next week, setting the stage for a general election in early 2025.

The chancellor's procedural move will allow for a vote Monday where the bloc of the leading candidate to replace him, Friedrich Merz, and other opposition parties are expected to declare they have no confidence in the government.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz formally set Germany on course for an early election Wednesday by requesting a confidence vote in parliament next week.