Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, faces a motion of confidence today that is expected to officially bring down his government.

The vote comes after the collapse of Mr Scholz’s “traffic light” coalition, based on the colours of three parties, Mr Scholz’s Social Democrats, the Free Democratic Party and the Green Party.

Friedrich Merz, the conservative Christian Democrat Union (CDU) leader, has labelled the floundering chancellor as “the low point in the 75-year history of the Federal Republic of Germany.”

“He leaves Germany in a deep crisis, isolated in Europe, and politically adrift,” Mr Merz said. “European leaders have stopped taking Scholz seriously. He either remains silent for hours or lectures the world without listening.”

In 1972, West Germany’s Willy Brandt used a motion of confidence to rally his coalition, win public trust, and achieve a historic election victory.

But a growing political consensus considers it extremely unlikely that Mr Scholz will today secure the necessary parliamentary support to continue to lead the German government.