Early German elections likely as Scholz fires minister, coalition collapses
Al Jazeera
Scholz will head a minority government with coalition partners, the Social Democrats and Greens, after firing his finance minister from the Free Democrats.
Germany’s ruling three-party coalition has collapsed after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired his finance minister, paving the way for an early election and triggering political chaos in Europe’s largest economy.
After sacking his Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democrats (FDP) party on Wednesday, Scholz is now expected to head a minority government with his Social Democrats and the Greens.
The collapse of Scholz’s political alliance caps months of wrangling over budget policy and Germany’s economic direction, with the government’s popularity sinking and far-right and far-left political forces surging.
“We need a government that is able to act, that has the strength to make the necessary decisions for our country,” Scholz told reporters.
Scholz said he fired Lindner for his obstructive behaviour on budget disputes, accusing the minister of putting party before country and blocking legislation on spurious grounds.
