At the start of November last year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner - the leader of one of three coalition parties forming the government (the Free Democrats, the Social Democrats and the Greens). It followed a row over the 2025 budget.

Voting will soon close in national elections. Polls show the hard-right AfD party is likely to have its best showing ever. The results will be of critical importance as Europe re-evaluates relations with the Trump administration.