Editorial: El País

• Chancellor Olaf Scholz has activated the electoral calendar for early elections in Germany on February 23.
• This move seeks to end a political deadlock caused by differences over economic management and public debt.
• Scholz, former Minister of Economy and Vice Chancellor with Angela Merkel, leads a progressive coalition government with the Social Democrats and Greens.
• He seeks a larger parliamentary majority to implement an expansive public spending policy.
• He faces the right wing led by Friedrich Merz who accuses the government of incompetence and uncontrolled spending.
• Two years ago, Scholz justified spending 100 billion euros on Defense, arguing that the war in Ukraine marked a turning point in Europe.

Conclusion: Germany's political future is at a crucial juncture. Their decisions on spending and public debt can have a significant impact not just locally, but also on the European Union.

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