Germany's Prime Minister Scholz is calling for a vote of confidence in January – DW – November 6, 2024

Chancellor Scholz said that there would be a vote of confidence in his government on January 15, 2025.

The move could postpone German parliamentary elections scheduled for fall 2025 until March 2025.

Scholz explained in a press conference his decision to fire his finance minister, which has put his coalition at risk of collapse.

Scholz also used the speech to discuss how Germany must proceed after the US election.

“Finance Minister Lindner showed no willingness to implement any of our suggestions,” Scholz said, adding that German companies needed immediate support and “those who refuse are acting irresponsibly,” citing the standoff with Lindner.

Scholz said that after the US election in which Donald Trump was elected, Germany now has to “show that you can rely on us.”

Just minutes before the news of Finance Minister Lindner's dismissal broke, German media reported that the leader of the Free Democrats had suggested to his partner, Chancellor Scholz, that new elections be held early next year.

The proposal was put forward as a solution to the government crisis. Scholz had rejected the suggestion Picture the newspaper reported.

After weeks of coalition negotiations about Germany's economic future, Chancellor Scholz fired FDP Finance Minister Lindner.

Germany's mass newspaper Picture reported the dismissal, while Scholz's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit confirmed it to AFP.

Lindner had called for comprehensive economic reforms, which were rejected by the other two coalition parties.

The question is how Germany can close a hole in the 2025 budget before a crucial meeting of the budget committee on November 14th. The spending conflict comes at a time when the German economy is struggling and facing another year of recession.

jcg/rt (dpa, AFP)