Olaf Scholz appointed as Germany’s new chancellor, replacing Angela Merkel after 16 years
Scholz, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), won the secret vote in the Parliament as expected, a culmination of months of negotiations following the SPD’s narrow victory in September’s federal elections. Following the ceremonial protocols, Scholz went to see German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier who officially appointed him as the country’s new Chancellor. He was then sworn in at the Parliament.The 63-year-old life-long member of the SPD served as the Labor and Social Affairs minister in Merkel’s first coalition government in the late 2000s. In 2011 he was elected mayor of Hamburg, a position he held — with high levels of support — until 2018.Since then, he has served as the vice-chancellor and finance minister in Merkel’s grand coalition government, a powerful position in German national politics. His political style is not dissimilar to that of his former boss — the two are alike in many ways, despite hailing from rival parties.Scholz, who has formed a The incoming government’s vision for Germany includes plans to legalize cannabis and ease naturalization and dual citizenship rules. It also aims to phase-out coal by 2030 and have at least 15 million electric cars on the road by the same year. Mandatory Covid-19 vaccines will likely also be considered, amid soaring cases in the country.Merkel, who watched the parliamentary proceedings from the visitors’ gallery alongside former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, received applause from lawmakers when name-checked by the parliamentary president Baerbel Bas.Having led Germany for 16 years and 16 days, Merkel has narrowly missed on becoming the longest serving post-war Chancellor, trailing Helmut Kohl by mere 10 days. Scholz has big shoes to fill. He is also taking over at a time of increasing diplomatic uncertainty in the European Union — including provocation from Russia and Belarus, and threats to the rule of law from Poland and Hungary. Unlike Merkel, he is not well known abroad.CNN’s Stephanie Halasz and Sheena McKenzie contributed reporting.
