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Germany: Olaf Scholz Set to Replace Angela Merkel As Chancellor


Wed 08 Dec 2021 | 12:00 PM
Ahmad El-Assasy

Olaf Scholz is expected to become Germany's eighth chancellor since World War II, following Angela Merkel retirement after a 16-year term.

Mr Scholz's government comes office with lofty ambitions of modernising Europe's most populous nation and tackling climate change, but it must first deal with Germany's most difficult phase of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 63-year-old, who has served as Germany's vice chancellor and finance minister since 2018, brings a wealth of expertise and discipline to an untested coalition of his Social Democrats, Greens, and pro-business Free Democrats.

The three parties are pitching their coalition as a progressive one that will breathe new life into the country following Mrs Merkel's near-record term in government.

To be chosen as chancellor, Mr Scholz will need the backing of at least 369 MPs in the 736-seat lower house of parliament because the coalition partners have a total of 416 seats, he should have a solid majority.

Mr Scholz said Tuesday that if they succeed, "it is a mandate to be re-elected jointly at the next election."

The new government wants to ramp up efforts to combat climate change by growing renewable energy consumption and pushing Germany's coal-fired power phaseout from 2038 to "preferably" 2030.

It also intends to modernise the country, including strengthening the country's notoriously inadequate mobile phone and internet networks.

It also intends to pursue more liberal social policies, such as legalising recreational cannabis and easing the path to German citizenship, while committing to make more attempts to deport non-asylum seekers.

In national elections, the coalition partners also want to lower the voting age from 18 to 16.

The minimum wage will be raised from 9.60 euros to 12 euros (£10) per hour, which Mr Scholz claims "means a wage boost for 10 million people."

In order to keep rental prices from rising, the coalition wants to build 400,000 additional flats per year.

Mr Scholz has signalled that the government's foreign policy will remain consistent, stating that the government will fight for a robust European Union and foster the trans-Atlantic relationship.

For all of the participants, perhaps most notably the Greens, the alliance presents both chances and hazards.