Germany’s pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) reportedly orchestrated its departure from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition weeks before the official breakup, internally dubbing the plans “D-day.” According to reports from Die Zeit and Süddeutsche Zeitung, the FDP had been strategizing since September to provoke a situation that would force Scholz to dissolve the coalition.
The coalition collapse coincided with the announcement of Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, adding to the political turbulence in Europe. Germany, long seen as a pillar of stability, now faces significant uncertainty.
The decisive moment occurred earlier this month when Scholz dismissed Christian Lindner, the FDP leader and finance minister, after Lindner presented an 18-page ultimatum that clashed with key government policies. The ultimatum, referred to internally as the “torpedo,” led to the resignation of all but one FDP minister and the collapse of the three-year-old government.
Reports suggest that the FDP’s plans were first outlined in a meeting at a Potsdam villa in late September and refined in subsequent discussions. While Lindner has dismissed the reports as “election campaign noise,” critics have taken issue with the terminology used by the FDP.
Rolf Mützenich, head of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) in parliament, condemned the FDP’s use of “D-day” — historically tied to Europe’s liberation from Nazi rule — for political maneuvering. “It shows how far Mr. Lindner has fallen,” Mützenich said, defending Scholz’s decision to dismiss him.
Lindner, however, argued that Scholz had been considering his dismissal since the summer and blamed the government’s lack of economic reforms for the FDP’s exit.
The fallout has plunged Europe’s largest economy into a political crisis amidst ongoing challenges, including economic strains, the war in Ukraine, and climate policy debates. A vote of confidence in Scholz is scheduled for December, which he is widely expected to lose, paving the way for early elections on February 23, months ahead of schedule.
This political shakeup underscores the fragile nature of Germany’s tripartite coalition and highlights the growing divisions over how to address the nation’s most pressing challenges.
