Scholz succeeds Merkel as German chancellor

Scholz succeeds Merkel as German chancellor

The German parliament on Wednesday elected Social Democrat Olaf Scholz as the country’s ninth postwar chancellor.

Scholz takes office at the head of a coalition of Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats, heralding a new political era after 16 years of conservative-led rule under Angela Merkel.

A total of 395 MPs in the Bundestag voted for Scholz, 63, a former mayor of Hamburg who served as finance minister in the outgoing government. Scholz needed a minimum of 369 votes - an absolute majority of all Bundestag seats - to be elected.

In accordance with the German constitution, Scholz will be officially named chancellor by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He is expected to take his oath of office in the Bundestag at noon, Politico reported.

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