German President dissolves parliament, calls early election for February 23

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolves parliament and confirms the expected February 23, 2025 date for the general election prompted by the collapse of Olaf Scholz's government last month. Scholz's coalition was brought down by internal fights over how to revive Europe's largest economy, but a deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market last week has renewed the country's heated debates over security and immigration.