BERLIN, June 27 (Xinhuanet) -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder formally applied Monday for a vote of confidence in his government to be conducted on July 1 in the Bundestag parliament to pave the way for an early general election, a government spokesman said in Berlin.

    Deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg said that the chancellor's letter to the speaker of the parliament requested a vote under the terms of Article 68 of the German Constitution, which stipulates how the legislature can remove or retain the incumbent government.

    Steg said that Schroeder, who is currently on an official visit to Washington, would address the chamber before the vote takes place on Friday and would not offer more details before then.

    Government ministers are to meet this Wednesday to discuss theissue. Schroeder's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and coalition Greens enjoy majority in the Bundestag, but Schroeder had said he would arrange to lose the vote of confidence so as to ensure an early election. Under German law, only when the government loses avote of confidence can an early election be held.

    Schroeder announced surprisingly that the general election would be advanced a year earlier to this autumn on May 22 , when his SPD was defeated in a state election in its stronghold North Rhine-Westphalia.

    Local media reported that some Bundestag members such as the ministers may have to abstain to achieve a no-confidence result. Enditem