Germany faces political turmoil as ruling coalition collapses after finance minister's dismissal
Germany's ruling coalition has collapsed after Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner. This decision, made shortly after Donald Trump's US election victory, has led to political chaos in the country. Scholz plans to lead a minority government with his Social Democrats and the Greens. He will hold a parliamentary confidence vote on January 15, 2025, which could lead to a snap election. The coalition's collapse follows disagreements over economic policy. Lindner opposed tax increases and changes to debt limits, while Scholz cited a breakdown of trust as the reason for his dismissal.