German Government at Risk of Collapse After Rift on Economy NYT | Top Stories Steven Erlanger and Christopher F. Schuetze 2 November 2024 at 23:16 A breakup of the divided and unpopular coalition well before elections set for next September could leave the country directionless at a critical time for Europe. © Clemens Bilan/EPA, via ShutterstockThe three key leaders of Germany’s coalition government, from left, Robert Habeck of the Greens, the economic minister; Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats; and Christian Lindner of the Free Democratic Party, the finance minister, in September.