Germany’s ruling coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz imploded after months of infighting between his center-left Social Democrats, the climate-focused Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats.

An election could take place in late January, he said. "We simply cannot afford to have a government without a majority in Germany for several months now, followed by an election campaign for several more months and then possibly several weeks of coalition ...

Germany’s leader is expected to lead the country with a minority government after the collapse of the coalition.