German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost a vote of confidence, triggering early elections on February 23.

Scholz, whose coalition government collapsed in November, orchestrated the vote to dissolve his minority administration and seek a fresh mandate.

His Social Democratic Party (SPD) trails heavily in polls, while the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leads.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling near 20%, complicating future coalition building.

Fragmentation in German politics, with radical parties gaining ground, threatens the stability of traditional centrist alliances, the BBC has reported.

The snap election comes amid economic struggles and political gridlock, leaving Germany’s future leadership uncertain.

Written by B.C. Begley