While the world has been watching Washington, Germany is quietly going into political meltdown. This is a very German crisis involving coalition infighting and complicated constitutional questions. But behind the complex political wrangling,

Germany's conservative opposition heaped pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's crisis-hit government Thursday to allow for speedy elections by calling a confidence vote next week rather than next year.

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