Former finance minister Christian Lindner, and leader of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) begins his electoral campaign in Potsdam, outside the German capital Berlin. "We need a shift, a shift back to freedom, personal responsibility, motivation and a willingness to take risks", he tells a crowd gathered to listen to his speech. Germany's upcoming early election, scheduled for February 23, was sparked by the collapse of centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition in November after months of internal bickering over economic policy. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES