Traffic light coalition.
Germany's three-party government - the Social Democrats (SPD), the neo-liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens - has collapsed after three years in power following a protracted dispute over next year's budget. The SPD and the Greens are essentially centre-left parties that believe in a strong state and investing money in social policy and climate protection. The economically liberal FDP, on the other hand, advocates a state that intervenes only in specific cases and exercises financial restraint. Scholz said he would now call a confidence vote for 15 January, which, if he loses, could allow elections to be held by the end of March next year - six months earlier than planned.
Traffic light coalition.