The government crisis in Germany

Right now: Risk of new elections in Germany at the end of March - cooperation has collapsed

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirms that he has fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who is party leader of the liberal governing party FPD.

- He has broken my trust too many times, says Scholz at a press conference, where he generally goes hard for Lindner:

- I no longer want to subject our country to this type of behaviour, he continues.

Furthermore, Scholz announces that he has decided on a vote of confidence in the government on January 15. If the government falls in the vote, it could pave the way for new elections in Germany at the end of March.

Germany's three ruling parties – the "yellow" liberal party FDP, the Greens and the social democratic SPD (red) – have long had difficulty agreeing on fiscal policy. 

Government crisis in Germany - the finance minister is fired

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has been fired by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The announcement marks the start of a German government crisis, writes Der Spiegel.

The three parties - the yellow FDP of which Lindner is party leader, the Greens and the social democratic SPD - have long quarreled over how the money should be distributed. During a crisis meeting earlier tonight, Lindner proposed new elections in January 2025, sources told Bild and Der Spiegel. But the proposal is said to have been flatly rejected by Olaf Scholz.

Lindner must have considered that there is a lack of sufficient common ground to continue governing the country together. According to the data, he argued that it is of extra interest to build a stable and efficient government after Donald Trump's election win.

At a press conference, Scholz announces that a vote of confidence will be held for the German government on January 15. If the government falls, it could mean new elections at the end of March.

Analysis: Has happened three times before - was a new election each time

The traffic light is broken. This is written by several German media after the traffic light coalition that has governed Germany has collapsed as a result of a protracted budget dispute.

Financial newspaper Handelsblatt's commentator Thomas Sigmund thinks it was absolutely right for Finance Minister Christian Lindner to sit in the crosshairs, which led to him being fired by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany is in recession for the second year in a row, he notes.

"One would almost like to say: Respect, Mr. Lindner! Risking your position to stay true to yourself doesn't happen often in politics.”

Scholz is also praised for his actions.

"This coalition did not fail because of a few billions in the budget. Lindner had long since moved on to the election campaign and only acted on the basis of party tactics," writes Kersten Augustins in an analysis in Die Tageszeitung.

Scholz's response was to poke Lindner and promise a vote of confidence in the government in January. In the country's history, three other leaders have done the same - and on all occasions it ended with new elections, writes Deutsche Welle.