REUTERSGerman opposition parties and business groups on Thursday urged Chancellor Olaf Scholz to trigger a new election quickly to minimise political uncertainty after his rocky three-way coalition collapsed. German industry, reeling from high costs and fierce Asian competition, also urged Scholz's government on Thursday to arrange an election as soon as possible. A meeting between Scholz and Merz on Thursday failed to solve the impasse, a government source said. Joerg Kukies, a top official in the chancellery and close SPD ally of Scholz, will be named finance minister. The crisis comes at a critical juncture for Germany, with a flatlining economy, ageing infrastructure and an unprepared military.
