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| Presenting the signed traffic light coalition agreement. From left to right Olaf Scholz (Social Democrats), Christian Lindner (Liberals), and Robert Habeck (The Greens) (©ntv) |
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| Olaf Scholz taking the oath of office (©dpa) |
Let's look back to Wednesday morning.
At 9:04 a.m., the speaker of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, calls the House to order.
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| Angela Merkel - note that she is showing her rhombus - still Federal Chancellor sits together with a former federal president (FP) and retired Bundestag speakers (SB). From left to right: Norbert Lammert (SB), Angela Merkel, Joachim Gauck (FP), Wolfgang Thierse (SB), Rita Süßmuth (SB), and her husband (?). |
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| Parliament in session. Ready to elect a new chancellor |
At 9:15 a.m., the secret ballot begins. It takes more than half an hour to read out 736 names. Because the members of the Bundestag are called in alphabetical order to cast their vote for or against the projected chancellor, Olaf Scholz. He is only allowed to vote after about 23 minutes.
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| Applause from his party colleagues |
At 10:16 a.m., the speaker announces the result. Votes cast: 707. Invalid ballots: 3. 395 members voted in favor. That is significantly fewer than the 416 seats available to the traffic light coalition. However, some parliamentarians had to pull out due to illness, so only 707 of a total of 736 went to the polls.
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| Flowers from the now opposing Christian Socialists, the Bavarian branch of the Christian Democrats |
Soon Olaf Scholz will leave the Bundestag and travel to Schloss Bellvue (Bellevue Palace), the official residence of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
This time the President takes more time. He speaks of the "responsibility for our country and more than 82 million people and great challenges." Then there's a class photo, and it's back again to the Bundestag.
Arrived at the Bundestag, Olaf Scholz's class sits down on the government bench, one seat apart because of Corona, and they all take their oath of office one after the other. Nine times with God's help, seven times without. Secularisation sucks.
At 3 p.m. Olaf Scholz is at the Federal Chancellery. Angele Merkel welcomes, "Congratulations, Olaf Scholz, all the best and always a happy hand for our country. Take ownership of this House and work for the best of the country."
Olaf Scholz thanks, "Dear Mrs. Merkel, dear Chancellor, it was a great time when you were chancellor of this country, and you made great things happen." And Merkel's former vice-chancellor continues, "I'd like to tie in - how to put it - with that northeast German mentality," smiling and adding, "Not that much will change."
Der Spiegel journalist Dirk Kurbjuweit comments: "Chancellor Election Day, the high mass of democracy, usually experienced only every four years, is a sober high mass. The Federal Republic is a country without political pathos, without emotional ceremonies. Things are done; they are not celebrated, not even the election of a chancellor."
"A great day, change of power, peaceful once again. That's the best news a democracy can deliver."
Karl Lauterbach, a member of the Bundestag, a medical doctor, a trained virologist, and an adjunct professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, an expert will lead the presently most important ministry.
Hopes are high but can a scientist lead the most critical ministry with a Firm Hand?
At 10:40 a.m., Scholz has one minute with the Federal President, who hands the new chancellor his appointment document.
At 12 p.m., Olaf Scholz reenters the Bundestag but can't find his seat. He heads for the SPD faction, wanting to sit next to faction leader Rolf Mützenich, where he had already sat in the morning. But an employee of the Bundestag intercepts him and guides him to the government bench, where he takes the seat of the Federal Chancellor.
Shortly after noon, Bärbel Bas takes the oath of office of Olaf Scholz. The new Chancellor reads from the original of the Basic Law, "I swear that I will devote my strength to the welfare of the German people, increase its benefit, avert harm from it, uphold and defend the Basic Law and the laws of the Federation, fulfill my duties conscientiously and do justice to everyone."
Then Scholz and his ministers return to Schloss Bellvue, where President Steinmeier hands over the appointment documents to Scholz's ministers.
At 12 p.m., Olaf Scholz reenters the Bundestag but can't find his seat. He heads for the SPD faction, wanting to sit next to faction leader Rolf Mützenich, where he had already sat in the morning. But an employee of the Bundestag intercepts him and guides him to the government bench, where he takes the seat of the Federal Chancellor.
Shortly after noon, Bärbel Bas takes the oath of office of Olaf Scholz. The new Chancellor reads from the original of the Basic Law, "I swear that I will devote my strength to the welfare of the German people, increase its benefit, avert harm from it, uphold and defend the Basic Law and the laws of the Federation, fulfill my duties conscientiously and do justice to everyone."
Then Scholz and his ministers return to Schloss Bellvue, where President Steinmeier hands over the appointment documents to Scholz's ministers.
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| Half of the ministers are female (©dpa) |
Arrived at the Bundestag, Olaf Scholz's class sits down on the government bench, one seat apart because of Corona, and they all take their oath of office one after the other. Nine times with God's help, seven times without. Secularisation sucks.
At 3 p.m. Olaf Scholz is at the Federal Chancellery. Angele Merkel welcomes, "Congratulations, Olaf Scholz, all the best and always a happy hand for our country. Take ownership of this House and work for the best of the country."
Olaf Scholz thanks, "Dear Mrs. Merkel, dear Chancellor, it was a great time when you were chancellor of this country, and you made great things happen." And Merkel's former vice-chancellor continues, "I'd like to tie in - how to put it - with that northeast German mentality," smiling and adding, "Not that much will change."
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| ©Libération |
"A great day, change of power, peaceful once again. That's the best news a democracy can deliver."
It is finished (John 19:30), although given the Omicron variant, the motto of the traffic light coalition "Daring more progress"* requires a flying start of the new government,
*Approximating the motto of Willy Brandt's first government, "Daring more democracy."
Did you count right in the above class photo? There should be 18 ministers, but there are only 17. Look carefully. A person hides behind the chancellor, the new Federal Minister of Health.
*Approximating the motto of Willy Brandt's first government, "Daring more democracy."
Did you count right in the above class photo? There should be 18 ministers, but there are only 17. Look carefully. A person hides behind the chancellor, the new Federal Minister of Health.
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| On the floor of the Bundestag: Karl Lauterbach debating a speaker from the now opposing Christian Democrats (©ntv) |
What most German voters had anticipated and hoped for became a reality.
Karl was admonished throughout the pandemic. While politicians leaned back during Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer when the Corona incidences were low, Professor Lauterbach was the voice of the one calling in the wilderness (Mark 1:3), the unpleasant prophet who predicted the fourth wave in fall.
Karl was admonished throughout the pandemic. While politicians leaned back during Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer when the Corona incidences were low, Professor Lauterbach was the voice of the one calling in the wilderness (Mark 1:3), the unpleasant prophet who predicted the fourth wave in fall.
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| ©Die Zeit |
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