Social Democratic leader Olaf Scholz was elected Chancellor of Germany by the Bundestag, ending the 16 years of Angela Merkel’s era. Supported by the SPD, the Greens and the Liberals, Scholz, 63, received the votes of 395 of the 736 members of the Bundestag. To succeed Angela Merkel Scholz she needed 369 votes. On paper, Scholz will have 416 votes out of 736 in the new Parliament, the sum of the seats in the ‘traffic light’ coalition between the SPD, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats. The new chancellor is now expected in the residence of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will formally assign him the post. Subsequently, at 1 pm, Scholz will return to the Bundestag where he will be sworn in. Immediately before the vote, a long applause with ovation greeted Angela Merkel.
