“He has betrayed my trust too often,” the chancellor said, accusing Lindner of putting the short-term survival of his party ahead of the well-being of the country.

Such public virulence from a chancellor towards a minister and coalition partner is unprecedented in German politics. If this was a televised public statement, imagine the mood behind closed doors.

Before the US election, Scholz’s allies argued that now was not the time for early elections and political instability in Germany.

But over the past year, infighting within the coalition has flared regularly over spending. And for voters, the bickering has become unbearable, meaning poll numbers for all three parties have plummeted.

Some argue that allowing a dysfunctional government to stay in power for another year would have led to more instability and gridlock.

There are also fears that the perceived inability of traditional parties to govern could play into the hands of the far-right AfD and the new far-left populist BSW party.

Even though the conservative Christian Democrats and their allies are well ahead in the polls, the AfD regularly comes in second.

The prospect of a Trump presidency is beginning to focus minds in Berlin. This could harm the German economy with tariffs and jeopardize national security by reducing support for Ukraine.

Many have now come to the conclusion that Germany needs a united and effective government more than ever.