The conflict in the German government intensified amid the discussion of the additional budget for 2024 and ways to stabilize the economy. At the regular meeting of the coalition committee, the three parties included in the Scholz government — the Free Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Green Party — discussed ways to overcome the financial crisis. Lindner offered a compromise: he would agree to support the budget if early elections were called. However, Scholz rejected this offer.
At the press conference, Scholz accused Lindner of excessive selfishness and the desire to protect the interests of his own party, not the country. According to the chancellor, this attitude of Lindner indicates a lack of support for German enterprises, which now need urgent help.
Scholz declared the need for a vote of confidence in his government, scheduled for January 15, 2025. If the confidence vote fails, Scholz's government will lose its majority in the Bundestag, which could lead to early elections in March 2025. Christian Lindner, for his part, expressed readiness to "continue responsibility for the country" even as part of the new government.
