Coalition Government Breaks, Snap Elections Likely For March

BERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: Christian Lindner, leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), is flanked by outgoing Education Minister Bettina Stark-Zimmermann (L), outgoing Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (2nd from L), FDP Bundestag faction leader Christian Duerr (2nd from R) and FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai as he speaks to the media the day after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired him from the position of Federal Finance Minister on November 07, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Scholz's move comes after weeks of growing rifts between Lindner and other coalition leaders over finance policy. The result is an exodus by the FDP from the three-party coalition, meaning the German Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens Party will govern as a minority government. Scholz announced he will submit himself to a vote of confidence in the Bundestag in January, with snap federal elections possible for March. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)