The leaders of the German Social Democrats (SPD) and Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) have reached an agreement to hold new elections on February 23, the DPA and *Handelsblatt* agencies report. Formal approval of the date is pending, with the SPD Executive Bureau due to schedule a vote of confidence on December 16. Initial information indicates that an agreement has been reached between the main political forces, with leaders Friedrich Merz (CDU/CSU) and Rolf Mützenich (SPD) agreeing on the date within the last hours, quoted by News.bg.
Now the decision on the final date depends on the Federal President of Germany. According to *Handelsblatt*, the Federal Executive Committee of the CDU is expected to hold an extraordinary meeting this evening to discuss and approve further actions.
Last week the so-called The "traffic light coalition" that ruled Germany from 2021 collapsed after a sharp crisis and scandal between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who was also the leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Lindner was fired, which increased political tension in the country and led to the decision for new elections.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed his willingness to dissolve parliament to prepare the country for the early vote. Chancellor Scholz initially proposed that the election be held in January, but later said there was no problem with the vote being scheduled for a date before Christmas.