German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner. The Politico website wrote that the ruling coalition, which consisted of three parties, had just “collapsed”. The head of the German government said that in mid-January he would ask the parliament for a vote of confidence, which in turn could lead to early elections in March.
Leaders of the government coalition SPDGreens and FDP gathered on Wednesday at the Chancellery Office in Berlin, where they spent two and a half hours discussing ways to overcome the coalition crisis. At the center of the discussion was how to plug the multi-billion hole in the 2025 budget and get the German economy back on track.
According to information from the daily newspapers “Bild” and “Tagesspiegel”, Christian Lindner, leader of the FDP party, proposed early elections at the coalition committee meeting.
Christian Lindner and Olaf ScholzPhoto from June 26, 2024PAP/EPA/CLEMENS BILAN
“Dramatic meeting of the leaders of three parties”
The circumstances of Wednesday's meeting of the leaders of the current coalition were described by the Politico website. “During the dramatic meeting of the leaders of the three parties on Wednesday evening at the Chancellor's Office, Lindner told Scholz that he saw no possibility of continuing the coalition and insisted on holding early elections,” the portal wrote. After this declaration, as reported by two people familiar with the background of the talks, Scholz decided to dismiss the Minister of Finance.
The portal wrote that the ruling coalition had just “collapsed”.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the head of the Chancellor's Office, Wolfgang Schmidt, in the office building in BerlinPAP/EPA/CLEMENS BILAN
Scholz: I will submit a motion for a vote of confidence
Reuters, citing information from ARD television, reported that a vote of confidence in the Scholz government may be held in the German parliament in January, which – as reported – may lead to elections to be held in March.
Later, at a press conference, Scholz himself confirmed this scenario. He said that he would submit a motion for a vote of confidence on January 15 and confirmed that this could lead to elections in March. He added that he would also talk to opposition leader Friedrich Merz.
Olaf Scholz at a conference at the Federal Chancellor's OfficePAP/EPA/CLEMENS BILAN
Scholz: Lindner acted in the interests of his own party
Scholz also spoke more broadly about the reasons for Lindner's dismissal. – Everyone who joins the government must act responsibly and reliably, (…), must be ready to make compromises in the interest of all citizens – he said. – But this is not exactly what Christian Lindner is focusing on now, he is focusing on his own voters and the interests of his party – he added.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/CLEMENS BILAN