Germany's Government in Crisis as Coalition Collapses

The German coalition government has collapsed after Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats (SPD) dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Liberals (FDP), citing a lack of trust. The "traffic light coalition" of SPD, FDP, and the Greens had been struggling with internal disagreements over economic strategies and budget issues. Scholz plans to bring a no-confidence vote to the Bundestag, leading to potential elections by March. The Greens expressed regret over the breakdown but are preparing for new elections while maintaining government duties.