What happens after the fall of the ruling coalition? The opposition insists on quick elections, the head of government has a different plan

This was to be expected – such an opinion about the collapse of the government coalition is not unique in Germany. – It was only a matter of time. This happened on the same day as Donald Trump's election victory. Same day. These are two very, very important pieces of news for Germans, but also for all of us – Europeans – said a man on a street in Cologne when asked about it. – It's good that this coalition has come to an end, because the last few months have been a real ordeal. The government was no longer able to function, said another.

More than half of Germans think similarly. The daily “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” wrote: “The end of the coalition is good news for Germany. Another year of this government would not be good for the country. (…) The self-proclaimed alliance of progress became a burden: those in power showed contempt for each other, many Germans turned away from them, and the economy entered a state of recession, also due to the unpredictable situation.

READ MORE: Resignation in the German government. Politico: the coalition has fallen apart

On Wednesday evening, Chancellor Olaf Scholz expelled Christian Lindner, Minister of Finance and head of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), from the government. This is how the agreement called, after the party colors, the “traffic light coalition” ended. The smallest piece of the puzzle has fallen out, yet the social democrats from the SPD and the Greens do not have a majority in the Bundestag

Olaf Scholz will have to ask parliament for a vote of confidence. If he doesn't get it, Germany will face early elections. Scholz wants the vote on this matter to take place only on January 15. Let's vote as soon as possible, says the opposition.

– The time pressure is enormous, and decisions are pending, whether regarding aid and financing for Ukraine, or the shape of decisions about economic security throughout the continent or within the European Union – comments Wojciech Przybylski, editor-in-chief of Visegrad Insight.

– I think it is irresponsible to postpone the vote until next year. Party motives are in the foreground here, says Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU/CSU and candidate for German Chancellor.

Friedrich Merz is probably the future Chancellor of Germany. He is the political heir of Angela Merkel. After her departure, the CDU/CSU bloc of Christian Democrats found itself in crisis. Today he is again the clear leader in the polls, but after the elections he would probably have to look for a co-coalition.

There is a problem here, because the far-right Alternative for Germany, second in the polls, is isolated, the populist, pro-Russian left is also eliminated, the SPD and the Greens are disgraced by their inept government, and the liberals from the FDP may not enter the Bundestag at all.

SEE ALSO: Germany in an impasse after the collapse of the coalition. The Chancellor is negotiating with the opposition leader, and an informal campaign is starting

Despite this, as many as 84 percent of Germans want early elections, and more than half support the attitude of the dismissed finance minister. Christian Lindner claims that the coalition fell apart because he opposed Scholz's demands, who wanted Germany to take out a new debt – a minimum of EUR 15 billion, mainly to plug the budget hole.

– For too long we have seen that they cannot agree on anything, and in the current geopolitical situation we cannot afford it – says a woman asked for her opinion on a street in Cologne. – Everything was leading to this ending, but the moment it happened is a bit tragic. First, Trump won, then the coalition fell apart, said another.

The Bundestag elections were scheduled to take place in September next year. Now there is even talk of January. However, the date depends on Olaf Scholz's actions.