Germany: Chancellor Scholz dismisses Finance Minister Lindner

The coalition crisis is worsening dramatically. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is dismissing Finance Minister Christian Lindner, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told the German Press Agency. At the press conference late on Wednesday evening, Scholz took Lindner seriously. “He has abused my trust too often,” the Chancellor told journalists.

Among other things, he accused Lindner of being irresponsible. As finance minister, he showed no willingness to respond to suggestions for the good of the country. He was only concerned with clientel politics and the short-term survival of his own party. “Such selfishness is incomprehensible.” There is no basis of trust for further cooperation. “Serious government work is not possible like this,” said Scholz. He doesn’t want to subject the country to this kind of behavior any longer.

Olaf Scholz wants to ask the question of trust. The Bundestag should vote on this on January 15th, said the SPD politician in Berlin.

Lindner had previously proposed a new election for the Bundestag. Participants quoted Lindner as saying that the discussions showed that sufficient common ground could not be achieved in economic and financial policy. It is in the country’s interest to quickly regain stability and the ability to act.

Scholz turns to Merz

Scholz announced that he would offer Union faction leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) to quickly work together to find solutions to strengthen the economy and defense. “I will now very quickly seek a conversation with the opposition leader, Friedrich Merz,” said the SPD politician in Berlin. He wanted to offer Merz to work together constructively on two or even more issues “that are crucial for our country: on quickly strengthening our economy and our defense,” said the Chancellor.

The economy cannot wait until new elections have taken place, Scholz added, adding: “And we now need clarity as to how we can finance our security and defense solidly in the coming years without jeopardizing cohesion in the country.” Even with a view to the elections in America, this is “perhaps more urgent than ever.” The Chancellor said: “It’s about making the decision that our country needs now. I will discuss this with the responsible opposition.

The leaders of the SPD, Greens and FDP had previously discussed for two and a half hours to find ways out of the traffic light crisis. Essentially, it was about how the billion dollar hole in the 2025 budget can be plugged and the badly hit German economy can be brought back on track.

Lindner had proclaimed “Autumn of Decisions”.

Lindner announced the “autumn of decisions” for the coalition some time ago. By this he was primarily referring to the budget for next year, which was to be passed in the Bundestag on November 29th. He was also concerned with a strategy for how Germany should be led out of the economic crisis. He made suggestions that escalated the dispute in the coalition. In his concept for an economic turnaround, Lindner calls, among other things, for the final abolition of the solidarity surcharge, even for high earners, and a change of course in climate policy.

There was considerable resistance to such ideas from the SPD and the Greens. Habeck had also taken a step towards Lindner. On Monday he agreed to use the billions in funding released after the postponement of the construction of an Intel factory in Magdeburg to plug budget holes.

The morning

The perfect start to the day with news and stories from Switzerland and the world.

More newsletters

Log in

SDA/fem

Found an error? Report now.

0 comments