Elected Chancellor Of Germany, Olaf Scholz Ends 16 Years Of Angela Merkel's Reign

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. (Wikimedia Commons/Olaf Kosinsky/kosinsky.eu)

JAKARTA - German MPs elected Social Democrat Olaf Scholz as Germany's chancellor on Wednesday, ending 16 years of conservative rule under Angela Merkel and paving the way for a pro-European coalition government that has pledged to boost green investment.

Scholz, who previously served as vice chancellor and finance minister in a coalition with Merkel, had a majority of 395 votes from lawmakers in the Bundestag Lower House of Parliament, Bundestag President Baerbel Bas said, citing Reuters Dec. 8.

Wearing a black face mask, Olaf Scholz waved as he received a standing ovation from MPs, followed by the presentation of wreaths and baskets of apples from parliamentary group leaders.

Adhering to the democratic procedures enshrined in Germany's Basic Law, Scholz was formally nominated by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the nearby Bellevue Palace, before returning to parliament to take the oath of office in front of lawmakers. Citing AFP, Scholz took the oath of office led by Bas.

In the afternoon, Merkel formally handed over the chancellor to the leader of a country facing a brutal fourth wave of coronavirus infections, as well as challenges to the democratic order by authoritarian governments.

With his down-to-earth and no-nonsense demeanor, Scholz has positioned himself as Merkel's natural successor and a safe pair of hands to steer Germany through challenges ranging from tackling the climate crisis, to dealing with a more confrontational Russia and an increasingly assertive China.

Scholz will lead an unprecedented three-way ruling coalition at the federal level with spending backers, the Greens and the more fiscally conservative libertarian Free Democrats (FDP), political companions of the past.

Scholz is a seasoned negotiator and veteran politician who served as secretary general of the SPD party from 2002 to 2004, defending controversial labor market reforms and social welfare cuts under former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

As labor minister from 2007-2009 in Merkel's first ruling coalition, Scholz pushed for short-term work schemes that helped protect millions of workers from the effects of the global financial crisis.

After being mayor of the northern port city of Hamburg from 2011-2018, Scholz returned to Berlin as Merkel's finance minister, a role in which she removed the goal of a balanced budget and allowed new lending records to protect companies and employees from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

At the European level, he worked closely with France and persuaded Merkel to support the 800 billion euros (US$900 billion) debt-financed European Recovery Fund, to help EU member states hardest hit by COVID-19.