After 16 years, Germany finally has a new chancellor

BERLIN – Olaf Scholz has been sworn in as the new chancellor German , ending 16 historic years Angela Merkel as a leader. He was elected by the German parliament, where his three-party coalition has a substantial majority, and was given a standing ovation.

Olaf Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats will co-rule with the Greens and the Free Democrats. The handover marks the end of Merkel’s 31-year political career.

Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, supported Scholz to become Germany’s new chancellor with 395 votes to 303. He was later officially appointed as the ninth chancellor of Germany by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

After the vote in parliament, he was asked by Bundestag President Barbel Bas if he accepted the appointment. He posted his response – “I said ‘yes'” – on his Twitter feed.

Also read: Olaf Scholz Seals Coalition Deal, Angela Merkel Era Ends

He then returned to the Bundestag to take the oath of office and was greeted with hearty applause.

Since the election, Scholz’s party has teamed up with the Greens and the Free Democrats in a coalition deal that was finally signed on Tuesday.

The new German government has ambitious plans to combat climate change by removing coal early and focusing on renewable energy. Even so, their initial priority is to overcome the corona virus pandemic. Health authorities have recorded another 69,601 cases in the past 24 hours and a further 527 deaths. This is the highest number since last winter.

Also read: Following in the footsteps of Austria, Germany, Lockdown of Unvaccinated Citizens

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