Germany's coalition collapses dramatically. Scholz plans to lead with a minority government
Germany’s leader is expected to lead the country with a minority government after the collapse of the coalition
BERLIN (AP) — After Germany’s government coalition collapsed in a dramatic fashion when Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats, Scholz said he would lead the country with a minority government, despite calls from opposition leaders on Thursday for early elections.
The chancellor said the minority government would be made up of his Social Democrats and the Greens until early next year — even as the leader of the biggest opposition bloc in parliament, Friedrich Merz from the center-right Christian Democrats, called for an immediate no-confidence vote and new elections.
Scholz stressed again on Thursday, that he does not want to call a vote of confidence before Jan. 15.
“The citizens will soon have the opportunity to decide anew how to proceed," the chancellor said, according to the German news agency dpa. "That is their right. I will therefore put the vote of confidence to the Bundestag at the beginning of next year.”
