Germany: coalition contract approved, Olaf Scholz on his way to the chancellery

A little over two months after winning the general election, Olaf Scholz will be elected by the Bundestag at the head of an unprecedented three-party coalition.

Odd Andersen AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Germany is preparing to elect Angela Merkel's successor.

The three parties of the new coalition, the social democrats of the SPD, the liberals and the ecologists approved the government contract negotiated by these three forces.

The election of the new Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday December 8 is now a formality.

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From our correspondent in Berlin

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The leaders of the three parties can prepare their most beautiful pen.

They are now authorized to sign the 177-page coalition contract presented almost two weeks ago.

There was little doubt about the approval, but it was nonetheless an indispensable part of a very ritualized process.

Unsurprisingly, the Social Democrats' support for this contract was strongest, with 98.8% of the vote at a congress held on Saturday.

The SPD takes over the leadership of government with Olaf Scholz, sixteen years after the departure of the Social Democrat Gerhard Schröder from power.

An unexpected success six months ago, when the party was at its lowest in the polls.

The SPD has certainly governed alongside Angela Merkel for twelve years, but suffering from remaining a junior partner with declining scores.

The Liberals also overwhelmingly approved the deal with 92% at their convention on Sunday.

The FDP is very satisfied with the coalition contract and having won the finance ministry, a key portfolio that party chairman Christian Lindner is getting.

► Also to listen: Why Lindner, new German Minister of Finance, worries Europeans

The Greens consulted their 125,000 members.

Frustrations were heard over the coalition agreement in a party where internal discussions are traditionally numerous and heated;

86% of voters finally approved the text, which is a satisfactory result for environmentalists.

Olaf Scholz and his two vice-chancellors, one environmentalist, the other liberal, will give a joint press conference on Tuesday morning before the election of the new chancellor and the appointment of the government on Wednesday 8 December 2021.

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• Germany

• Angela Merkel

• Olaf Scholz