Olaf Scholz is elected chancellor and Germany closes the Merkel era

Two and a half months after the elections in Germany, the social democrat Olaf Scholz was elected Chancellor this Wednesday, which means the return of the center-left to power and the end of 16 years of government of Angela Merkel.

ScholzThe 63-year-old received 395 votes in favor of the 736 Bundestag deputies, who were elected in the September 26 elections.

SIGHT: Germany closes the Merkel era after 16 years and opens the Scholz chapter

“Yes,” he said Scholz to the Speaker of Parliament, Bärbel Bas, when asked if she accepted the result of the vote. The President of the Republic, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will then deliver a certificate that formalizes his appointment and marks the beginning of his term.

Scholf will take the oath, together with his government, before the deputies, during the day.

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His election as the ninth chancellor of Germany after the war was not in doubt since his social democratic party SPD won the legislative elections with 206 seats against 197 of the conservative Christian Democratic Union until now in power.

Scholz it is supported by the Greens (118 seats) and the liberals of the FDP (92), who form the new coalition in power.

The result of this vote marks the withdrawal of Angela Merkel after four terms. For just nine days, the iconic leader will not have broken Helmut Kohl’s longevity record in power.

The outgoing Chancellor was present during the vote and received long applause from the deputies.

After the election of Scholz, the president of the European Commission, Ursuya von der Leyen hoped to work with him “for a strong Europe”, while Russia hoped to maintain with the new leader “a constructive relationship”, at a time when tensions they are strong between the EU and Moscow.

“There is no other alternative than dialogue to resolve the most serious differences”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said.

Parity government

The leader, who has chained tributes in recent weeks, will definitely leave the Foreign Ministry after a transfer of powers ceremony with Scholz, adversary and ally, Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor in the last four years.

Merkel, still with high levels of popularity, put an end to 31 years of political career, half of them at the head of the first European economy and fourth in the world.

Three of them will lead key ministries: the ecologist Annalena Baerbock in Foreign Affairs and the Social Democrats Christine Lambrecht and Nancy Faeser in Defense and Interior respectively.

Also for the first time since the 1950s there will be three parties in the German cabinet.

Despite electoral programs sometimes in the antipodes, the SPD, the Greens and the FDP managed to quickly agree on a program that focuses on climate protection, budgetary rigor and Europe.

Christian Lindner, a leader of the Liberals and a supporter of budget austerity, will take over the important Finance portfolio.

Health crisis

The newly launched coalition will have to face the worst health crisis since the appearance of covid-19, with hospitals under heavy pressure.

The wave of infections led the government to impose tough restrictions on the unvaccinated, who cannot enter restaurants, cultural venues and, in some regions like Berlin, shops.

The strategy of the new executive goes through the obligatory nature of the vaccine, desired by Scholz and that could be applied from February or March.

The Social Democratic leader, former mayor of Hamburg, will entrust the Health portfolio to Karl Lauterbach, a doctor by training and supporter of restrictive measures.

The new government is also expected on the international scene amid geopolitical turmoil with Russia and China.

Scholz He has not yet commented on the “diplomatic boycott” announced by the United States against the Winter Olympics in Beijing, but the new head of diplomacy does not rule out following in Washington’s footsteps.

Annalena Baerbock promised to adopt a firmer tone than the previous government towards Russia, whose accumulation of troops on the border with Ukraine increases fear of possible aggression.

As tradition marks, Scholz will book his first visit abroad France. This Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron, who will receive the new foreign minister on Friday, hoped to “write the future together.”

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Deshawn