German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced his readiness to dissolve parliament and call for early elections following the unexpected collapse of the country's governing coalition.

The political turmoil began when Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition partner, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), withdrew after the dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

Alongside Lindner, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann and Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger were also released from their posts.

This split left Scholz leading a minority government with only his Social Democrats and the Greens.

In response, Scholz has scheduled a vote of confidence for mid-January, with possible snap elections as early as March 2025 if the government fails to secure support.

President Steinmeier emphasized that any decision to dissolve parliament would depend on securing a stable majority capable of governing effectively.

The recent coalition rift was partly due to disagreements over next year's budget and aid to Ukraine, which Scholz highlighted as a contentious issue.

The political developments mark a rare event in the history of modern Germany, emphasizing the need for reason and responsibility among its leaders.