“United action where there is a consensus”

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Government statement about the current situation “United action where there is a consensus”

In his government statement the Federal Chancellor announced that the Bundestag would be taking a vote of confidence on 16 December. This would allow for new elections to take place in February, he explained, adding that until that time he would like to implement a number of key legislative initiatives concerning issues where there is a consensus.

Federal Chancellor at the lectern in the Bundestag.

“Let us take united action where there is a consensus,” Scholz said in his government statement.

Photo: Federal Government/Steffen Kugler

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued a government statement to the Bundestag to address the current situation. He announced that he would call a vote of confidence on 11 December, so the Bundestag would be able to take the vote on 16 December. This was his contribution as Federal Chancellor to enabling elections in February 2025, Scholz said.

“Let us cooperate to the benefit of our country until the new elections,” the Federal Chancellor said to the members of parliament, clarifying that this applied to areas in which there was a consensus. 

Which legislation does the Federal Chancellor want to pass before the new elections?

  • Compensate for cold progression to ensure higher net pay for employees from January 2025.
  • Adopt proposals under the growth initiative to stimulate economic growth in Germany.
  • Increase the child benefit and the child supplement with effect from January 2025.
  • Provide for better protection of the Federal Constitutional Court in the Basic Law.

What did the Federal Chancellor say about foreign policy?

  • Continuing support for Ukraine to prevent escalation: Ukraine should be given a sound perspective as a sovereign democratic nation.
  • Escalation of the situation in the Middle East must be prevented.
  • Transatlantic cooperation is a key pillar for success for Germany. This is why all efforts must be made to ensure German-American relations develop positively.
  • Germany must spend more on defence and cooperate closely within NATO.

What aspects of cooperation does he feel are the most important?

  • Support for Ukraine must not depend on cuts in other policy areas.
  • In other areas, too, there must be no “either-or” approach that plays off different areas of policy against each other. 
  • Compromise is the only acceptable way to go.