German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses power

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in the German parliament, putting the country on course for an early election in February.

• Scholz won the support of 207 lawmakers in the Bundestag, but his majority of 367 was far short.

• Scholz’s government collapsed after his three-party coalition collapsed on November 6.

• The confidence vote was needed as post-Second World War Germany’s constitution does not allow the Bundestag to dissolve itself.

• President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has 21 days to decide whether to dissolve parliament and call an election.

• Once parliament is dissolved, the election must be held within 60 days.