LATEST: What we know so far about German government collapse

A high-profile sacking, calls for earlier elections, resignations and a new finance minister – here’s what we know so far about the collapse of Germany’s coalition government and the subsequent chaos.

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What’s happening?
On the same day that Donald Trump won the US election, things took a turn for the worse in German politics. 
On Wednesday night, the three-way government, nicknamed the ‘traffic light’ coalition and made up of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) – collapsed. It came after Scholz dramatically fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner, declaring there was no longer any “basis of trust” with Lindner.
Although shocking it is hardly a surprise. Coalition leaders have been at loggerheads for months, with Lindner repeatedly calling it an “autumn of decisions”.
One of the main issues was that Lindner had proposed sweeping reforms to jumpstart the troubled German economy that the other two parties opposed.
Crisis talks were taking place on Wednesday night in a last ditch attempt to keep the government afloat.

Will there be an earlier election?
People in Germany were scheduled to vote in a new nationwide election on September 28th, 2025.
However, it’s getting more and more likely that a vote will take place much earlier.
Scholz announced that he wants to call a vote of confidence in the first week of the Bundestag session in the new year on January 15th in order to be able to pass legislation in December.
This would likely be followed by snap elections in March.

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German political scientist Kai Arzheimer told The Local the country was heading for a snap vote “but the path to early elections is winding, because there are high constitutional hurdles”.
He added; “Scholz said yesterday that he will ask parliament for a vote of confidence in January. His intention is to lose that vote. Only then can he ask the president, who then has the authority (but not the obligation) to dissolve parliament within three weeks.
“Elections have to be held no later than 60 days after dissolution, which would bring us to March.”
READ ALSO: What would a CDU election win mean for Germany?

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Could an election happen even earlier?
That’s certainly what some politicians want to see – and even a majority of the public, at least according to a survey.
The chancellor said he would seek talks with the conservative Christian Democratic Union’s leader Friedrich Merz on Thursday with the offer to “work together constructively on issues that are crucial for our country”.
However, Merz, who is leading in opinion polls, called on Scholz to seek a confidence vote next week – not next year as Scholz has offered. This would speed up the process for a snap election. 
“The decision taken last night… is the end of the coalition government and thus the end of this legislative period,” said Merz following a meeting with his parliamentary group in Berlin.

The leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz speaks to media at the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament in Berlin, on November 7th, 2024. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP)
He added: “We simply cannot afford to have a government without a majority in Germany for several months and then have an election campaign for several more months and then possibly hold coalition negotiations for several weeks.”
READ ALSO: Who is the conservative leader hoping to become Germany’s next chancellor?
Markus Söder, leader of the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the CSU, also called for a fresh vote as soon as possible.
“Germany needs new elections and a new government quickly,” he posted on social media site X. There must be no tactical delays.”
“The vote of confidence must be held immediately and not next year. New elections could even take place in January.”
Die #Ampel ist Geschichte. Jetzt darf keine Zeit mehr verloren werden. Deutschland braucht rasch #Neuwahlen und eine neue Regierung. Taktische Verzögerungen darf es nicht geben. Die #Vertrauensfrage muss sofort und nicht erst im nächsten Jahr gestellt werden. Damit könnten… pic.twitter.com/2yxg9j3CJS— Markus Söder (@Markus_Soeder) November 7, 2024

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag also called for a “new political start quickly in order to lead the economy and the entire country out of the serious crisis”.
Parliamentary group leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla called on Scholz to do the country “one last service” and immediately call for a vote of confidence.
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck signalled that his Greens party would stay on in a minority government and “continue to fulfil our obligations”.
Two-thirds of German residents surveyed in a snap poll on Thursday said new elections should take place in January. Only one-third said they supported Scholz’s plan of holding a confidence vote in January and waiting for new elections until March.

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What other developments do I need to know about?
Things are changing quickly but here are some of the important points to know:
The pro-business Free Democrats said all its ministers will walkout following Lindner’s sacking. “The other FDP ministers in the federal government have declared that they will hand in their resignations,” said senior party lawmaker Christian Dürr.
These include Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing, however, said he would quit his FDP party and stay in government in an apparent rift with party chief Lindner.
“I want to stay true to myself,” Wissing said, explaining why he was not joining other FDP cabinet ministers who have quit Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition.
Wissing will now also take over as Justice Minister while Green Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is now also responsible for education.
After Lindner’s sacking, government sources said that Jörg Kukies, a member of Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats and a close ally of the chancellor, will be named Germany’s new finance minister.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, FDP secretary general Bijan Djir-Sarai and FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Duerr arrive before addressing a press conference at the Reichstag building on November 6th. Photo: John Macdougall / AFP
Are we in for a turbulent time?
It appears that way. With an economic slump within Germany and shifting power abroad, it’s a difficult time fraught with uncertainty.
Political expert Kai Arzheimer said: “There is a major imperial land war going on in Europe, and it is highly likely that the incoming Trump administration will withdraw much of American support for Ukraine and Europe.
“Germany and Europe need a stable government in Berlin.”
With reporting by AFP

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What’s happening?
On the same day that Donald Trump won the US election, things took a turn for the worse in German politics. 
On Wednesday night, the three-way government, nicknamed the ‘traffic light’ coalition and made up of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) – collapsed. It came after Scholz dramatically fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner, declaring there was no longer any “basis of trust” with Lindner.
Although shocking it is hardly a surprise. Coalition leaders have been at loggerheads for months, with Lindner repeatedly calling it an “autumn of decisions”.
One of the main issues was that Lindner had proposed sweeping reforms to jumpstart the troubled German economy that the other two parties opposed.
Crisis talks were taking place on Wednesday night in a last ditch attempt to keep the government afloat.
Will there be an earlier election?
People in Germany were scheduled to vote in a new nationwide election on September 28th, 2025.
However, it’s getting more and more likely that a vote will take place much earlier.
Scholz announced that he wants to call a vote of confidence in the first week of the Bundestag session in the new year on January 15th in order to be able to pass legislation in December.
This would likely be followed by snap elections in March.
German political scientist Kai Arzheimer told The Local the country was heading for a snap vote “but the path to early elections is winding, because there are high constitutional hurdles”.
He added; “Scholz said yesterday that he will ask parliament for a vote of confidence in January. His intention is to lose that vote. Only then can he ask the president, who then has the authority (but not the obligation) to dissolve parliament within three weeks.
“Elections have to be held no later than 60 days after dissolution, which would bring us to March.”
READ ALSO: What would a CDU election win mean for Germany?
Could an election happen even earlier?
That’s certainly what some politicians want to see – and even a majority of the public, at least according to a survey.
The chancellor said he would seek talks with the conservative Christian Democratic Union’s leader Friedrich Merz on Thursday with the offer to “work together constructively on issues that are crucial for our country”.
However, Merz, who is leading in opinion polls, called on Scholz to seek a confidence vote next week – not next year as Scholz has offered. This would speed up the process for a snap election. 
“The decision taken last night… is the end of the coalition government and thus the end of this legislative period,” said Merz following a meeting with his parliamentary group in Berlin.

He added: “We simply cannot afford to have a government without a majority in Germany for several months and then have an election campaign for several more months and then possibly hold coalition negotiations for several weeks.”
READ ALSO: Who is the conservative leader hoping to become Germany’s next chancellor?
Markus Söder, leader of the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the CSU, also called for a fresh vote as soon as possible.
“Germany needs new elections and a new government quickly,” he posted on social media site X. There must be no tactical delays.”
“The vote of confidence must be held immediately and not next year. New elections could even take place in January.”

Die #Ampel ist Geschichte. Jetzt darf keine Zeit mehr verloren werden. Deutschland braucht rasch #Neuwahlen und eine neue Regierung. Taktische Verzögerungen darf es nicht geben. Die #Vertrauensfrage muss sofort und nicht erst im nächsten Jahr gestellt werden. Damit könnten… pic.twitter.com/2yxg9j3CJS
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag also called for a “new political start quickly in order to lead the economy and the entire country out of the serious crisis”.
Parliamentary group leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla called on Scholz to do the country “one last service” and immediately call for a vote of confidence.
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck signalled that his Greens party would stay on in a minority government and “continue to fulfil our obligations”.
Two-thirds of German residents surveyed in a snap poll on Thursday said new elections should take place in January. Only one-third said they supported Scholz’s plan of holding a confidence vote in January and waiting for new elections until March.
What other developments do I need to know about?
Things are changing quickly but here are some of the important points to know:
The pro-business Free Democrats said all its ministers will walkout following Lindner’s sacking. “The other FDP ministers in the federal government have declared that they will hand in their resignations,” said senior party lawmaker Christian Dürr.
These include Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing, however, said he would quit his FDP party and stay in government in an apparent rift with party chief Lindner.
“I want to stay true to myself,” Wissing said, explaining why he was not joining other FDP cabinet ministers who have quit Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition.
Wissing will now also take over as Justice Minister while Green Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is now also responsible for education.
After Lindner’s sacking, government sources said that Jörg Kukies, a member of Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats and a close ally of the chancellor, will be named Germany’s new finance minister.

Are we in for a turbulent time?
It appears that way. With an economic slump within Germany and shifting power abroad, it’s a difficult time fraught with uncertainty.
Political expert Kai Arzheimer said: “There is a major imperial land war going on in Europe, and it is highly likely that the incoming Trump administration will withdraw much of American support for Ukraine and Europe.
“Germany and Europe need a stable government in Berlin.”
With reporting by AFP