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German president prepares for potential snap elections as coalition collapses

German politics news
The Reichstag Building in Berlin.

Following the collapse of Germany’s ruling coalition President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced his readiness to call an early election if required.

The pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) withdrew from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition after Scholz dismissed FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

The departure has left Scholz leading a minority government with only his Social Democrats and the Greens.

Steinmeier released Lindner, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, and Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger from their roles, marking a rare moment of instability in Germany’s recent political history. S

Scholz has scheduled a vote of confidence for mid-January, with potential snap elections to follow in March 2025 if his government fails to secure support.

The former coalition partners had clashed over economic policy and support for Ukraine, with Scholz’s proposal for increased aid to Ukraine being a key point of contention.

Image credit: Fionn Grosse

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