German coalition government collapses as Scholz calls for snap election
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for a snap election after his coalition government collapsed over economic issues. This unusual move follows the dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who opposed borrowing rule changes to address budget shortfalls.
Scholz plans a confidence vote in January, aiming to hold elections in March. The conservative CDU/CSU party currently leads in polls, positioning them to regain power after losing to Scholz's SPD three years ago.
In a separate development, the German cabinet approved a draft law to assess the readiness of 18-year-olds for military service, aiming to boost troop numbers amid rising defense needs. This follows discussions on reintroducing conscription, which was ended in 2011.