German Chancellor to face confidence vote in December

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will face a confidence vote at the Bundestag in the upcoming December, Rolf Muetzenich, head of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group, announced on Tuesday.

According to the agreement reached among Germany's main political parties, the date of the confidence vote is set for Dec 16.

In addition, the SPD has also reached an agreement with opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) to hold a snap federal election on Feb 23, 2025, which advanced the election date from originally scheduled Sept 28.

The decisions came amid a political crisis within the ruling coalition. Earlier this month, the coalition of the SPD, the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) failed to agree on budgetary issues.

As a result, Scholz on last Wednesday dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who is also the FDP leader. In response, the FDP announced its withdrawal from the coalition government, indicating the collapse of the Scholz-led ruling coalition.

This means that the government is in a minority at the Bundestag and has to seek the support of other parties at the Bundestag to get any policy passed.

Should Scholz fail the confidence vote, the president could dissolve the parliament within 21 days. Snap elections will have to take place within 60 days of the dissolution.

German Chancellor to face confidence vote in December

German Chancellor to face confidence vote in December

German Chancellor to face confidence vote in December

The Peruvian capital of Lima will soon see the completion of a major flood control project built by a Chinese company.

It does not rain frequently in Lima, but the Huaycoloro River overflowed in 2017 due to unusual heavy precipitation, affecting 30,000 families living along the river.

The 10.5-kilometer flood control project built by China International Water and Electric Corp. is set to be completed in January 2025.

"Extreme weather like El Nino can lead to flash floods and other natural disasters, So, such a project was launched," said Liu Hongmin, project manager with China International Water and Electric Corp.

The company has completed nearly 20 projects in Peru in fields including hydropower, flood control, road, bridge, power transmission and mining.

Peru is hosting APEC 2024, with the APEC Economic Leaders' Week underway in Lima.

The week will conclude with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on Nov 15-16.

"The APEC meeting is an important event for our country, and we look forward to all countries, including our good friend China, to come and invest. Investment drives infrastructure construction, infrastructure construction generates more jobs, and employment brings about increases in income, foreign exchange and the development of tourism," said Hernan Yaipen Arestegui, Peruvian Minister of Authority of National Infrastructure.

China builds flood control project in Lima