German opposition leader Friedrich Merz has welcomed his party's agreement with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government to hold early elections in February. "February 23 is a good solution," Merz said in Berlin on Tuesday after a meeting with lawmakers from his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party,

Germany is set to hold fresh elections on February 23, eleven weeks after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition, with sources on Tuesday saying the Social Democrats, Greens and conservatives had reached a compromise on timing.

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian democratic (CDU/CSU) opposition, is pushing for a confidence vote before Christmas.

The collapse of Germany’s ’traffic light’ coalition government headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz has thrown the focus on opposition leader Friedrich Merz. The 68-year-old, who leads the Christian Democratic Union (CDU),

The decision follows a budget fight that prompted Chancellor Olaf Scholz to fire his finance minister and announce a confidence vote that is widely expected to fail.

German media are reporting that Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to ask for a vote of confidence in his government on Dec. 16

Parties agree 23 February vote after chancellor torpedoed the coalition government by sacking finance minister.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats and opposition lawmakers reached an agreement to hold an early election in February, according to government officials familiar with the talks.