The snap elections might create a new political crisis, however, since recent polls show the Conservatives will not have a partner to form a right-wing government.

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz launched his election bid with a stinging attack on Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling the Social Democrat a “lightweight” and accusing him of sowing division in Europe’s biggest economy.

Today, our Berlin correspondent explains why the EU’s biggest economy is heading for an early election, and we report on the political chaos around the final European commissioner hearings. Context: Scholz unravelled his coalition last week,