What is the vote of confidence

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is to face a vote of confidence in the Bundestag. All the key details at a glance.

How does a vote of confidence work?

The vote of confidence is regulated by Article 68 of the Basic Law. It is an instrument that can be used in two ways: to stabilise the government or to initiate new elections. In both cases, the aim is to avoid a situation arising in which the country has no effective government.

In the current situation, the Federal Chancellor is calling a vote of confidence so as to give the Bundestag the opportunity to decide whether or not to clear the way for early elections. If the majority of members of parliament withdraw their confidence in the Federal Chancellor, the Federal President can dissolve the Bundestag at the proposal of the Federal Chancellor, and new elections are then held.

The vote of confidence is also a way of determining whether the Federal Chancellor's policies still enjoy the support of the majority of Bundestag members. In addition, a vote of confidence can be called in connection with a substantive issue such as the passing of a draft law.

Has there ever been a vote of confidence in the Bundestag before?

A vote of confidence has been called five times in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany:

• on 20 September 1972 by Willy Brandt
• on 3 February 1982 by Helmut Schmidt
• on 17 December 1982 by Helmut Kohl
• on 16 November 2001 by Gerhard Schröder
• on 1 July 2005 by Gerhard Schröder

How exactly does the vote of confidence work and when will there be new elections?

There must be at least 48 hours between the Federal Chancellor's motion for a vote of confidence and the actual vote itself by the members of the Bundestag.

In terms of votes, the Federal Chancellor must receive the support of an absolute majority of the statutory number of Bundestag members (the so-called "Chancellor's majority"). 367 votes would currently be required. If this majority is not forthcoming, the Federal President can dissolve the Bundestag within 21 days - if the Federal Chancellor makes a proposal to this effect. If the Federal President complies with the Federal Chancellor's request and dissolves the Bundestag, new elections must be held within 60 days. This is also set out in Article 39 of the Basic Law.

The day of the Bundestag elections is determined by the Federal President in accordance with the Federal Elections Act.

Does the current Federal Government have the capacity to function effectively? Can it actively pursue foreign policy and conclude international treaties, for example? Is it authorised to spend public funds?

Yes, the Federal Government is fully functional. It is not acting in a provisional or executive capacity. It conducts government business regularly and in full possession of all competences and powers - both internally and externally.

But the current Federal Government is now a so-called minority government: this means that on issues that require parliamentary approval, it has to find majorities in the Bundestag.

What is the difference between a vote of no confidence and a vote of confidence?

The rules governing the vote of no confidence are laid down in Article 67 of the Basic Law, those governing the vote of confidence are to be found in Article 68. The aim of both is to put trust in the government to the test.

With a vote of confidence, the initiative comes from the Federal Chancellor. If the Chancellor fails to obtain the approval of the majority of Bundestag members, this may give rise to new elections.

By contrast, a vote of no confidence is initiated by the Bundestag. The Bundestag can only pass a vote of no confidence in the Federal Chancellor if a new Federal Chancellor is elected by a majority of its members. As such, a vote of no confidence does not result in new elections.