Germany elects Olaf Scholz as its new Chancellor

New German Chancellor Olaf Scholz | Carsten Koall/Getty Images

German lawmakers chose Social Democrat Olaf Scholz as the country's ninth postwar chancellor on Wednesday.

Scholz will lead a coalition of Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats, ushering in a new political era following 16 years of conservative government under Angela Merkel.

Scholz, 63, a former mayor of Hamburg who served as finance minister in the outgoing government, received 395 votes. Scholz needs a minimum of 369 votes to be elected — an absolute majority of all Bundestag seats.

According to the German constitution, Scholz will be officially named chancellor by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He is scheduled to take office at noon in the Bundestag.

Publish : 2021-12-08 15:51:00

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