Following the collapse of the coalition government, Jörg Kukies is appointed as the interim finance minister of Germany. He faces significant challenges, including the preparation of a budget for the next year and managing ongoing financial operations without a formal budget law due to the upcoming elections. Economic conditions remain weak, and the previous government’s budget proposals are now contentious. Kukies remains optimistic about avoiding immediate financial crises, yet must navigate a complex political landscape and a potentially prolonged period of financial uncertainty.