BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner, paving the way for parliament’s confidence vote on January 15, which is expected to lead to early elections next March.

At a press conference on Wednesday evening, Scholz said Lindner had made it impossible to work in the ruling three-party coalition, especially by refusing to compromise on how to restart the country’s stagnant economy and close a multibillion-euro deficit in the budget.

“The finance minister does not seem willing to implement this proposal for the good of our country. “I don’t want to subject our country to this kind of behavior anymore,” Scholz said, barely hiding his anger.

This move signaled the collapse of the coalition government that has governed Europe’s largest economy since 2021.

Management coalition is formed Scholz’s Social Democrats, Lindner’s pro-business Free Democrats and the Green party. The coalition took office after Chancellor Angela Merkel, one of the heavyweights of politics. left politics.

But it has struggled with internal disputes worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany, now Germany’s second most popular political party.

Lindner’s removal would lead to a vote of confidence that could pave the way for new elections. Political sleight of hand is required, as the German constitution does not allow the chancellor to directly call early elections.

Lindner’s dismissal comes despite calls for the coalition to remain united following the election of Donald Trump as US president.

Greens co-leader Omid Nouripour said before Scholz’s announcement that the coalition had the opportunity to “signal that we understand how serious the situation is.”

And Economy Minister Robert Habeck, leader of the Green Party, wrote to X: “Now is the time to show some responsibility… Germany must be fully capable of action.”

But even though polls suggest his coalition is widely unpopular, Scholz appears eager to return to voters for a new mandate: 82% of respondents told pollster Forsa on Wednesday that they do not think the ruling coalition can solve the country’s economic problem. problems.

Rob Schmitz reported from Berlin; Nick Spicer reported from Washington DC

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