German lawmakers have on Wednesday, December 8, elected Olaf Scholz from the Social Democratic Party as the new head of government. The change in political leadership means that Angela Merkel leaves the office and her Christian Democratic Union will go into Bundestag opposition, German news portal The Local.de reports.
In a secret ballot in the Bundestag, Scholz received the confidence of the lawmakers with 395 out of 707 votes. Germany’s next ruling coalition will comprise centre-left Social Democrats, the ecologist Greens and the liberal Free Democrats.
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«We have a chance for a new beginning for Germany,» Scholz said to his party last weekend as it gave its support to the coalition deal.
The three-party alliance aims to slash carbon emissions, modernise outdated digital infrastructure and citizenship laws. Other goals are increasing the minimum wage and have Germany legalise marijuana, The Local.de reports.
Germany elects social democrat Scholz as new chancellor
