(Berlin) Two and a half months after the legislative elections in Germany, the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz became the new chancellor of Europe’s largest economy on Wednesday, elected by the deputies to succeed Angela Merkel.
Of the 736 members of the Bundestag resulting from the September 26 poll, 395 voted for Olaf Scholz, 303 against and 6 abstained, allowing him to become the ninth chancellor of post-war Germany and to sign the return of the center left in power.
“Yes,” Olaf Scholz then replied to Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, who asked him if he accepted the result of the vote. The President of the Federal Republic, Frank-Walter Steinmeier then presented him with his “deed of appointment”, thus marking the official start of his four-year term.
The former mayor of Hamburg, 63, was then sworn in to the Bundestag by reading Article 56 of the Basic Law in which he promises in particular “to devote his (my) forces to the good of the German people”.
Renowned for his sobriety, the new head of government, smiling, received congratulations from many elected officials, bouquets of flowers – as well as a basket of apples – and posed for many selfies. His parents and his wife, Britta Ernst, a regional social democratic minister, attended the event.
There was no doubt about his election: his Social Democratic Party (SPD), which won the legislative elections, has a comfortable majority (206 seats), with its two new coalition partners, the Greens (118 seats) and the Liberals. of the FDP (92).
This vote marks the withdrawal of Angela Merkel after four terms of office which, within nine days, did not allow her to break the longevity record held by Helmut Kohl (1982-1998).
Present in the assembly to attend the election of her successor, she was applauded at length by the deputies, most of them standing, before the opening of the plenary session.
In response, Angela Merkel, medical mask on her face, waved to them from the grandstand.
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised Olaf Scholz to write “the rest together”. The President of the European Commission, the German Ursula von der Leyen, intends to work with him “for a strong Europe”. Olaf Scholz will meet them both on Friday on his first trip abroad.
The Kremlin for its part wanted “a constructive relationship” with the new chancellor at a time when tensions are high between the EU and Moscow.
Cascading tributes
Angela Merkel, who has received cascading tributes in recent weeks, will be leaving the Chancellery for good after an afternoon handover ceremony with Olaf Scholz.
The leader, at the height of her popularity not long ago, put an end to 31 years of political career.
A convinced feminist, Olaf Scholz will take over the reins of a government made up for the first time as many men as women.
Three of them will be at the head of key ministries: Foreign Affairs for the ecologist Annalena Baerbock, Defense and the Interior for the two social democrats Christine Lambrecht and Nancy Faeser.
The government will also be unprecedented in its political composition. For the first time since the 1950s, it will bring together three parties: the SPD, the Greens and the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP).
These three formations quickly reached agreement on a program which gives pride of place to climate protection, budgetary rigor and Europe.
Christian Lindner, the leader of the liberals and paragon of budgetary austerity, must also take the head of the powerful Ministry of Finance.
Health crisis
Barely installed in their new functions, the ministers will face a health crisis on a scale unmatched since the appearance of COVID-19. The epidemic outbreak has already pushed Berlin to a drastic turn of the screw for the unvaccinated.
The strategy of the new executive is now based on compulsory vaccination desired by Olaf Scholz and which could be adopted in February or March.
The new government is also eagerly awaited internationally in the midst of geopolitical turmoil with Russia and China.
Olaf Scholz has not commented on the announcement by the United States of a “diplomatic boycott” of the Beijing Winter Olympics while the new head of diplomacy has not ruled out following in Washington’s footsteps .
Annalena Baerbock also promised to adopt a stronger tone than the previous government with regard to Moscow at a time when Russia is massing troops and significant military assets on the borders of Ukraine, raising fears of aggression.