Germany’s Olaf Scholz seals coalition deal to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor
- Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats says they will present their agreement with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats on Wednesday
- The new government will prioritise climate protection, push for investment in new technologies, and is also likely to become more assertive on the international stage, especially with issues over China and Russia
After nearly two months of intense negotiations, Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats said they will present their agreement with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats on Wednesday. Details of the coalition deal will be published later, when Scholz and leaders from the other two parties will hold a news conference at 3pm in the German capital.
The pact secures a majority in the lower house of parliament, which is expected to swear in the new government in early December – after the parties’ members approve the coalition accord.
Scholz, a low-key pragmatist in Merkel’s mould, has years of experience as finance minister, mayor of Hamburg and an SPD heavyweight dating back to Gerhard Schroeder’s chancellorship. Many of his potential cabinet members are untested, and the parties’ disparate positions create plenty of scope for bickering.
FDP Chairman Christian Lindner, an advocate for fiscal discipline, is slated to become finance minister, according to a preliminary list of cabinet posts obtained by Bloomberg on Monday.
Robert Habeck – the co-leader of the Greens who campaigned on ambitious spending to upgrade German industry and infrastructure – is expected to become a “super minister” overseeing the economy along with climate and energy policy.
The posts, which are filled by the parties, may not be officially announced until later.
While Germany’s system of coalition governments promotes stability, the new government is about as big a break as possible after 16 years under Merkel. Her Christian Democratic-led bloc is being relegated to the opposition for only the third time since World War II.
While the market-oriented FDP has traditionally played a kingmaker role, the Greens have only served in federal government once before – under Schroeder from 1998 to 2005 – and its members have high expectations.
Scholz’s alliance has come together quickly by German standards, especially considering the policy differences. The Social Democrats narrowly beat Merkel’s conservatives in the September 26 election, and the fragmented political landscape left little alternative to forming a government.