German government collapses as Olaf Scholz dismisses finance minister
The German government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz has collapsed after he dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner. This decision followed months of internal conflict within the coalition, which has seen a decline in popularity. Lindner's party, the right-wing FDP, withdrew its ministers from the cabinet. Scholz plans to seek a vote of confidence in January, which could lead to early elections by March. The FDP, traditionally allied with the conservative CDU/CSU, is currently polling at 4%. CSU leader Markus Söder has called for immediate elections, while Green Party minister Robert Habeck suggested the ouster could signal a new direction for the coalition.