In announcing the resignation of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that it was due to “persistent gaps regarding spending and economic reform.”
This paved the way for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Scholz's government and an early general election. As Scholz pointed out, the vote could take place on January 15. If Scholz loses the vote, an early general election would be held in March.
During a meeting of the leaders of the three parties – the SPD, FDP and the Greens – on Wednesday evening, Christian Lindner told Olaf Scholz that he saw no way to continue with the coalition and called on him to call an early general election.
Growing divisions within the coalition. Scholz accused the minister of “political games”
The split in the coalition turned out to be too serious. Lindner and his FDP insist that the German government stick to strict spending rules and cut taxes, even as its left-wing coalition partners want to maintain social spending and boost German industry through economic stimulus.