Germany's coalition government faces uncertainty after Free Democrats exit

Germany's coalition government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, collapsed last week, losing its parliamentary majority after the Free Democrats left. This has left many proposed laws in uncertainty, but there is bipartisan support to protect the Constitutional Court from far-left and far-right influences. New Finance Minister Joerg Kukies announced that the government will focus on advancing laws already in progress. Key issues include the future of the Deutschlandticket, a popular transport initiative, and measures to adjust tax bands and child benefits, which face skepticism from some parties. Several proposed laws are likely to be abandoned, including a plan for hydrogen-ready power stations and a guaranteed minimum pension. The government also lacks time to pass the 2025 budget and a proposal for limited military service is expected to fail.