As the world watched the US election and Donald Trump's imminent return to the White House, another political earthquake was taking place in Germany. In Berlin the three member parties coalition has collapsed.
The crisis, which had been brewing for months, culminated in a falling out between Scholz and his government's key minister, Christian Lindner.
It led to the dismissal of Finance Minister Lindner and the resignation of ministers from the Free Democratic Party and the collapse of the coalition. This crisis has opened up the possibility of holding early elections in spring.