The leader of Germany’s pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) on Tuesday said he believes the winner of national elections set to be held in February is a foregone conclusion. Christian Lindner – whose dismissal as finance minister prompted the collapse of Chancellor Scholz’s three-party coalition last week – said in Berlin: “In truth, I think the race for chancellor is already over.” Opposition leader Christian Merz of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) is, in Lindner’s view, highly likely to be the country’s next chancellor. “The question is: with whom will chancellor Merz govern?” Lindn…