The traffic lights may have gone out on Sunday

Federal Chancellor Olaf Schulz and Finance Minister Christian Lindner cut the tablecloth like never before. A newspaper is now privately reporting on key scenes from before.

Christoph Schwennik/t-online

Narrow-minded, concerned only with the well-being of the party, often disappointed personally: On Wednesday evening at the end of the Joint Council of the Chancellery, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a historic speech about the sacking of the finance minister and lashed out German Finance Minister. Fierce opposition to FDP leader Christian Lindner in prepared speech. That night, he was very surprised to find only a few dry words.

Christian Lindner (FDP, left) and Olaf Scholz (SPD): A key scene before the breakdown of the Traffic Light Alliance is said to have taken place on Sunday. (archived image) Image: trapezoid

The next day, however, he hit back with personal accusations against the “current federal chancellor.” On the same day, when Lindner and most other FDP ministers received their certificates of dismissal, Lindner and Scholz stood on either side of the federal president. Even long-time observers of politics cannot remember the break between the two coalition partners being accompanied by so much discord.

Rest may occur on Sunday

Now, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports on key scenes leading up to the pair's public appearance. So this happened on Sunday night at the Prime Minister's Office. Lindner came here to have dinner with Scholz.

According to FAS, Scholz asked Lindner to “organize” the content of his 18-page business paper. Lindner Scholz then suggested for the first time that the alliance should be ended. On his recommendation, under the FAS, we should work together to resolve outstanding issues in the current budget and then hold an early federal election by mutual consent.

Former Finance Minister Christian Lindner spoke on Thursday.Image: Getty Images Europe

Lindner wants Scholz to raise trust issues

Lindner's plan is therefore to have Scholz demand a vote of confidence in the Bundestag in the coming days but continue to cooperate until the Bundestag is dissolved in January. But Scholz denied this. This breakthrough “became clear for the first time” when looking back at Scholz's circumstances.

At the end of the meeting, Scholz asked if he must expect the FDP to quit the government before Wednesday's joint committee. Lindner denied this. When asked by the chancellor whether this could be done next weekend, Lindner remained silent.

The FAS's account is largely consistent with Der Spiegel's reconstruction of events.

Scholz may have prepared three speeches

On Wednesday, Scholz prepared three speeches for the joint committee. One is a positive outcome, one is a situation where Lindner will be eliminated, and one is a situation where he kicks Lindner out. This corresponds to t-online information. That matched Scholz's Wednesday night appearance: Every word of his statement was read through two transparent teleprompters.

In this speech, Scholz talked about the confidence vote in mid-January and the new elections at the end of March. However, under pressure, particularly from opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU), he now says he may have wanted to do so sooner. Just as Lindner suggested to him.

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Germany's traffic light union is history. On Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner. All LDP ministers subsequently quit the government. Latest developments.