Germany's Scholz ready to hold confidence vote this year

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that he would be willing to call a vote of confidence in parliament before Christmas. 

"It is no problem at all for me to call a vote of confidence before Christmas if everyone agrees," Scholz said during a one-on-one interview hosted by Caren Miosga on public broadcaster ARD. 

"I am not glued to my post," he added. 

Following last week's collapse of Germany's governing coalition, Scholz announced plans to call a parliamentary vote of confidence in his minority government. 

The vote, which the chancellor is widely expected to lose, would pave the way for snap elections

Scholz had initially scheduled the confidence vote for January 15, but increasing pressure has led the chancellor to consider bringing it forward.

'A nasty game' was being played out as coalition collapsed, says Scholz

Scholz refuted the notion that he orchestrated the breakdown of his governing three-way coalition.

"I did not provoke it," Scholz said, adding that he fought until the end to keep the three-party constellation of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) together.

"I put up with the fact that I kept putting on a good face for the sake of compromise and cooperation, sometimes even playing a pretty nasty game. But when it's over, it over," Scholz said.

The coalition crisis, stemming from differences over economic and fiscal policy, escalated late Wednesday when Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democrats.

This reduced the three-party coalition government to two parties, Scholz’s Social Democrats and the Greens.

Scholz explains decision to fire Lindner

Scholz also said he was vital in keeping the coalition together.

"Without my repeated efforts to achieve cooperation and compromise, the government would not have lasted this long. It wouldn't even have been formed."

Scholz said it was a "clear and straightforward" decision to fire his finance minister, Christian Lindner, a move which set the wheels in motion for the confidence vote, and possible election in 2025.

After the confidence vote, which Scholz is widely expected to lose, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will have 21 days to dissolve the Bundestag, with the election held within 60 days of the closure of parliament.

jsi/lo (AFP, Reuters, dpa)