German Chancellor Fires Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Ending Coalition Government

In a dramatic move on Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed his Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, bringing an end to the nation’s fragile three-party coalition government. The decision followed weeks of escalating tension within the coalition, which consisted of Scholz’s Social Democrats, Lindner’s Free Democrats, and the Greens.

The chancellery confirmed the firing after a crucial meeting with senior members from all three parties. Scholz’s spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, announced that a press conference would be held later in the day. Lindner, known for advocating substantial economic reforms, had clashed repeatedly with the Social Democrats and Greens over policies aimed at revitalizing Germany’s ailing economy. His frustration with the lack of agreement on financial matters had been mounting, leading him to suggest that new elections could be necessary as early as 2025.

With Lindner’s ousting, Scholz’s coalition appears to be fractured, though the Social Democrats and Greens are expected to continue governing as a minority until Germany’s next election, set for September 2025.