German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leading to a significant crisis within the ruling coalition, commonly referred to as the 'traffic light crisis'. Scholz cited the need to prevent harm to the country as the reason for Lindner's sacking, which followed intense negotiations regarding the government's economic direction. Following the dismissal, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) withdrew from the coalition, while the Greens opted to remain. Scholz plans to hold a confidence vote in January, which could trigger early elections by March 2025. Tensions escalated after Lindner proposed controversial economic reforms, leading to a breakdown in trust among coalition members. The situation poses risks for all parties, as current polling indicates they may perform poorly in potential upcoming elections.