Olaf Scholz has reached his goal – for now

After the applause had subsided, Bas asked Olaf Scholz (SPD) whether he would accept the election. Scholz takes off his black mask and calls out a loud “Yes” for his standards. Bas also thinks that it was loud and audible. “This means that Olaf Scholz has been elected as the new Federal Chancellor.”

When the applause broke out again, Olaf Scholz briefly humbly lowered his head. Then he gets up, grins and waves into the hall before he receives the congratulations and bouquets of flowers from the parliamentary groups.

First of all, SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich congratulates him. Shortly afterwards, FDP boss Christian Lindner presented a large bouquet, with a particularly large number of yellow flowers in the arrangement. The future opposition leader Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU) also congratulates, Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet even as third, Corona-compliant with his fist.

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On this solemn day of the democratic transition, the new beginning and the farewell, some people also forget the corona rules for a moment. Green leader Annalena Baerbock briefly presses Scholz, the future Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) shakes the hand of his future boss. Only the AfD does without a bouquet of flowers.

The day of the election of the chancellor got earlier at 9 o’clock, initially with a farewell. Bas welcomes Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), who is no longer sitting in the plenary, but in the parliamentary gallery above the MP because she is no longer a MP. The former Federal President Joachim Gauck and the former Bundestag President Norbert Lammert (CDU) have taken their seats next to her.

Standing ovations for Angela Merkel

The MPs stand up, there is a standing ovation for the outgoing Chancellor. Until her successor is chosen, Merkel chats with other guests of honor such as former Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse (SPD) or the Apostolic Nuncio, the ambassador of the Holy See in Berlin.

Your successor is meanwhile downstairs in the plenary in front of the rows of seats of the SPD parliamentary group. The 736 MPs are called alphabetically to elect the new Federal Chancellor, so Scholz is late and has time for talks.

The Chancellor, who was still future at this point in time, held long discussions with the future Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, and later health politicians from other political groups joined them. It is very likely that the group will be talking about the corona crisis.

Shortly afterwards, Scholz met the future development aid minister, Svenja Schulze. When the deputies are called, the ushers have meanwhile reached the “L”, Armin Laschet (CDU) is on.

At this very moment, the Union’s candidate for chancellor walks past the coming chancellor in Scholz’s back, waves to someone and disappears into the back rows of the Bundestag. Just a few months ago, Laschet looked like the sure winner in the federal election. Now he has to be content with the back seats in the Bundestag for the time being. And his opponent, Olaf Scholz, will be Chancellor in a few minutes.

But for now the wait continues. The future Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) sits alone for minutes in the back row of the Bundestag and writes on his cell phone. Even Scholz now seems lost for a moment and decides to roam through the ranks of his faction.

Selfie requests from younger MPs

He now has to interrupt his conversations again and again for selfie requests from especially younger SPD MPs. Scholz is not otherwise a fan of it, but on this day, on his day, he likes to do it. Usually it is not allowed to take photos in the plenary hall. “But before I issue 736 calls to order, let’s make an exception today,” says Bundestag President Bas jokingly.

Another exception is that Olaf Scholz’s family shows itself publicly. Both his parents and his two brothers with their wives should sit in the VIP gallery, at least that was announced in advance. The family otherwise avoids the public, does not talk about their famous family member and so far only appeared when Scholz was sworn in as Hamburg mayor. And now, of course, with the next, biggest step in your career, the election as Federal Chancellor.

However, there is a small blemish in the choice. Olaf Scholz gets 21 fewer votes than the traffic light has MPs. Scholz received 395 yes-votes, but the traffic light coalition had 416 members. The guesswork quickly begins as to why that is. 29 MPs are absent across all groups due to illness. But does that explain all the missing votes?

SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert explains, “I would put my hand in the fire that we all stood by”. He assumes that the dissenters in the election for Chancellor did not come from the ranks of the SPD, but from the FDP and the Greens. It is naturally more difficult for the coalition partners to elect someone from another party to be Chancellor, Kühnert told the television broadcaster Phoenix. An FDP politician jokes that you know who did not agree to Scholz: “All those who have become nothing.”

Certificate of appointment and oath of office

The session in the Bundestag has long been interrupted at this point, and Scholz is on his way to Bellevue Palace, where he receives his certificate of appointment as Federal Chancellor from the Federal President.

Then he drives back to the Bundestag. At 12 o’clock sharp, he took his seat on the government bench as the new Federal Chancellor. He then takes his oath of office and reads the form of the oath provided for in Article 56 from the original of the Basic Law. The non-denominational SPD politician dispenses with the addition “So help with God”.

In the afternoon, Scholz goes back to the office of the Federal President to appoint his federal cabinet. Then, finally, it goes to the Federal Chancellery.

First, Scholz will meet Angela Merkel for a one-on-one conversation. This is followed by the ceremonial handover in the Federal Chancellery, due to the Corona in a somewhat smaller circle. Afterwards, the former Chancellor says goodbye and drives away. And Olaf Scholz has finally arrived at the Chancellery.

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