German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday defended his decision to fire finance minister Christian Lindner last week, prompting the collapse of his three-party coalition and early elections. “The decision was correct and unavoidable,” said Scholz as he gave a government statement in parliament. Scholz dismissed Lindner on November 6 following months of wrangling over the proposed budget for 2025. Lindner’s Free Democrats (FDP) subsequently withdrew from the coalition, leaving the chancellor without a majority in the Bundestag, or lower house. Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens – h…