Scholz has suggested holding a vote of confidence in his government on Jan. 15, with a snap election in March, but the conservative opposition led by Friedrich Merz wants an election in January. "Olaf Scholz should call a vote of confidence in December so that everything can be clarified before Christmas and the New Year," Hofreiter told Bild.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said he was prepared to negotiate over the date of a vote of confidence in his government, after the collapse of his three-party coalition. In Budapest for an informal EU summit,

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, mired in crisis after his three-party coalition collapsed this week, said Friday he is open to talks on whether to move forward snap elections.