German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced on Friday that he would dissolve parliament and call early elections on 23 February.

This was in response to Chancellor Olaf Schulz’s request to dissolve the Bundestag, paving the way for early elections.
Schulz lost a vote of confidence in the Bundestag on 16 December.

Article 68 of the German constitution stipulates that the Federal President can dissolve parliament on the proposal of the Chancellor if the latter loses the vote of confidence within 21 days of the proposal, and Article 39 stipulates that early elections must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of parliament.