Bundestag elects Olaf Scholz as the new Federal Chancellor – 21 traffic light deputies deny him the vote

The formation of the government: an overview of the day

9 clock – The Bundestag meets in the Reichstag building. Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) will inform the MPs that the Federal President has proposed, in accordance with Article 63 of the Basic Law, that Olaf Scholz be elected Chancellor. The article also stipulates that this should be done without debate.

A majority of the votes of the members of the Bundestag is necessary for the election. With currently 736 MPs, this is 369 votes. The traffic light parties SPD, Greens and FDP together have 416 seats. Around 90 minutes are planned for the secret election – a little more than usual due to the corona.

10.30 a.m. – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is already waiting in Bellevue Palace. As soon as he has declared in the Bundestag that he will accept the election, Scholz will move there. Because the already quoted Article 63 also stipulates that the elected president is to be appointed by the Federal President. Once this is done, it goes back to the Reichstag building.

12 o’clock – The Bundestag resumes its suspended session. Scholz is sworn in. While US presidents like to take the family Bible for this, in Berlin this is done with the original of the Basic Law, which is otherwise kept in the safe of the director of the German Bundestag.

The formula of the oath is recorded in Article 56 of the Basic Law: “I swear that I will devote my energies to the welfare of the German people, to increase their benefit, to prevent damage from them, to uphold and defend the Basic Law and the laws of the Federation, to conscientiously fulfill my duties and Will do justice to everyone. So help me God. ”The religious affirmation can also be dispensed with.

12.30 p.m. – And again, Federal President Steinmeier is waiting for Scholz in Bellevue Palace. This time he drives up accompanied by his future cabinet. Because Article 64 of the Basic Law states that the Federal Ministers are appointed (and also dismissed) by the Federal President on the proposal of the Chancellor. Steinmeier will present the eight women and eight men with their certificates of appointment and will also give a speech.

1.30 p.m. – Bundestag President Bas reopened the suspended session and announced that the Federal President had informed her that he had appointed the following ministers. She reads the list. This time Bas will read out the oath himself and every minister will answer: “I swear it.” Or also: “I swear it, so help me God.” This concludes the formation of the government and the new government is in office.

3pm – The new Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will take over the official duties of his predecessor Angela Merkel in the Chancellery. The new heads of department do this in their ministries.

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