Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost a vote of no confidence in parliament on Monday, in a move that will clear the way for early elections next year.
The Bundestag vote, which Mr Scholz had expected to lose, allows President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to dissolve the legislature and formally order an election, which is expected on February 23.
Out of the Bundestag deputies, 394 voted against Mr Scholz while only 207 expressed confidence in the chancellor, with 116 abstentions. The confidence vote was needed because post-World War II Germany’s constitution doesn’t allow the Bundestag to dissolve itself.
Mr Scholz, of the Social Democrats, led a three-party coalition from 2021 until it collapsed in early November, when he fired finance minister Christian Lindner, head of the Free Democrats, losing his majority in the lower house of parliament in the process.
His party lags badly in the polls behind conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union, the party of former chancellor Angela Merkel.
The political turbulence comes as Germany faces political and economic challenges, including high energy prices. Berlin also faces major geopolitical risk as it confronts Russia over the Ukraine war and as US president-elect Donald Trump's looming return heightens uncertainty over future Nato and trade ties.
In his push for re-election, Mr Scholz called for massive new spending on infrastructure and defence. “It’s high time to invest forcefully into our country,” he told lawmakers ahead of the vote. “We must turn the switch and this means now.”
In the parliamentary debate, Mr Merz lashed out at Mr Scholz, saying “you are leaving the country in one of the biggest economic crises of the postwar period.”
With campaigning just getting under way, the conservative CDU/CSU alliance under Mr Merz leads with support at around 31 per cent, the far-right Alternative for Germany is second with 19.8 per cent and the SPD third at 17 per cent, polls show.
The Greens are fourth with 11.2 per cent and the BSW, a new far-left party founded in January, fifth at 7.5 per cent. Mr Lindner’s FDP remains in danger of missing the 5 per cent threshold for getting into parliament with 4.9 per cent.
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The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
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Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
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Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
Tomorrow 2021
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The five pillars of Islam
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2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
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Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
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Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
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Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
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