Germany’s ruling coalition collapsed on Wednesday, the same day Donald Trump was reelected in the US. The upheaval in Berlin couldn’t have come at a more tumultuous time, but this shock to the system is exactly what Germany needs to shake out of its malaise.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his Finance Minister Christian Lindner over deep rifts within the government on how to revive Germany’s ailing economy. Scholz, normally understated in his communication style, told the press on Wednesday that Lindner “has broken my trust too many times.” In a scathing attack, he described the behavior of his former minister as “petty” and “selfish.”