Scholz said at the time that he intended to continue leading a minority government consisting of his Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens until mid-January, when a vote of confidence would take place, leading early elections in the spring.

But Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), under pressure Scholz to bring forward this timetable considerably so that a snap election takes place in January, before Donald Trump takes office in the United States Merz, who, based on current polls is likely to become Germany’s next chancellor, has threatened to withhold conservative support for any legislation – a move that would effectively cripple the German government – unless Scholz agrees to a vote of confidence in the coming days.

Scholz suggested Friday that a deal would be possible.

“It would be nice if the democratic groups in Parliament could agree on which laws could still be adopted this year,” Scholz said in Budapest. “This agreement could then also answer the question of when to hold a vote of confidence in Parliament, particularly regarding the date of the elections.”

In anticipation of the early elections, the parties have already started their campaign.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced on Friday his intention to run as the Greens’ first candidate for chancellor. long awaited.

“I am ready to offer my experience, my strength and my responsibility, if desired, also as chancellor,” Habeck said in a nearly nine-minute speech. video posted Friday, which showed him sitting at a kitchen table.

Habeck is unlikely to win, based on current polls, but it is possible that the Greens could be part of an upcoming government coalition as a junior partner.