Free Republic

Germany's governing coalition is in crisis after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired a key minister and said he would call a vote of confidence in his government early next year. Scholz said he had no trust in Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who leads a rival party that has been part of the coalition along with Scholz's Social Democrats and the Greens. The move means Scholz's government no longer has a majority in parliament. The confidence vote could lead to early elections by March. The so-called "traffic light" coalition led by the chancellor has governed Germany since 2021.

Germany’s incoming government, led by the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), were pressed to clarify their foreign policy priorities at a press conference on Tuesday. Having officially signed a three-party coalition agreement, Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz and the rest of his Cabinet members are expected to take office on Wednesday after a vote and swearing-in ceremony in the German parliament. Scholz put Europe in focus as he fielded questions on Russia, China and the United States alongside Greens co-leader and incoming vice chancellor Robert Habeck as well as Free Democrat (FDP) chief and incoming Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Strengthening the European Union...

Leading German politicians are planning to attend a demonstration against antisemitism and in solidarity with Israel on Thursday evening, the organizers announced earlier in the day. The event — starting at 7 p.m. (17:00 UTC) in front of the Brandenburg Gate — is being organized by an array of different groups, including the Jewish Community of Berlin, the Kurdish Community in Germany, and the German Trade Union Confederation. The list of speakers included Germany's Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the socialist party (SPD), the leader of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) Christian Lindner, General Secretary of Angela Merkel's Christian...

“It is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!” Those were the words of Christian Lindner, leader of the Free Democrats (FDP) party in Germany as he walked out of talks with Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). This was effectively the last shot that Merkel had at forming a ruling coalition with a safe majority in the Bundestag. This leaves Merkel in perilous territory and no one is certain what happens next. But one thing seems certain, and that’s the new reality of a Germany which is no longer in the untouchable grasp of Merkel’s former CDU...