German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called a confidence vote following the collapse of his coalition government. He has lost the vote, paving the way for elections in February. DW has the latest.
the mechanism isn’t meant for willy-nilly forcing new elections just because the guy in front wants it so.
That is exactly what this mechanism is for. The chancellor is literally the only person that can call for this kind of vote of confidence (Vertrauensfrage).
That is exactly what this mechanism is for. The chancellor is literally the only person that can call for this kind of vote of confidence (Vertrauensfrage).
https://www.bundestag.de/services/glossar/glossar/V/vertrauensfrage-245558
You might be thinking of the constructive vote of no confidence, which is a different mechanism that allows parliament to elect a new chancellor.
https://www.bundestag.de/services/glossar/glossar/K/konst_misstrau-245482