Germany's ruling coalition collapses as Chancellor fires finance minister
Germany's ruling coalition has collapsed after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Scholz will now lead a minority government with his Social Democrats and the Greens, despite opposition calls for immediate elections. Scholz plans to hold a vote of confidence on January 15, which could lead to early elections. He has appointed new ministers, including Jörg Kukies as finance minister, after several Free Democrats resigned. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz criticized Scholz's decision to delay the vote, arguing that a government without a majority cannot function effectively. The coalition's collapse follows ongoing disputes over economic policies and budget management.