Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost a confidence vote in the German parliament, putting the European Union’s most populous member and biggest economy on course to hold an early election in February.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has formally set Germany on course for an early election by requesting a confidence vote in parliament next week.

Germany's president said the country is enduring a “crisis of trust” as it weathers a second Easter under pandemic restrictions amid dissatisfaction over the government’s response.