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.

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.