German coalition faces crisis as Scholz fires finance minister

Germany's governing coalition is facing a crisis after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Scholz cited a lack of trust in Lindner, who leads a rival party in the coalition, which now lacks a parliamentary majority. Scholz plans to hold a vote of confidence in his government on January 15, 2024. If the government is voted down, Germany could face early elections, potentially before the scheduled date in September. The coalition, formed in 2021, has struggled with internal tensions and differing priorities, especially regarding economic policies amid rising costs and defense spending due to the Ukraine conflict.