Berlin, Nov 7 (AP) Germany's centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday he was firing Finance Minister Christian Lindner, which could undermine the ruling three-party coalition that relies on Lindner's pro-business party.

The coalition had been arguing for weeks over ways to boost the country's ailing economy, but were not able to find a compromise.

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“I feel compelled to take this step to prevent damage to our country. We need an effective government that has the strength to make the necessary decisions for our country," Scholz said.

Lindner, from the pro-business Free Democrats, had rejected tax increases or changes to Germany's strict self-imposed limits on running up debt. Scholz's Social Democrats and the environmental Greens, who are also part of the coalition, want to see massive state investment and rejected the Free Democrats' proposals to cut welfare programmes.

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It was not immediately clear if the Free Democrats would leave the government coalition. (AP)

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