The era of Angela Merkel, who was the Chancellor of Germany for a long time, has come to an end. Social Democratic Party (Olaf Scholz) leader Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that an agreement has been reached between the three parties to form a new government. Schultz said the new government would explore the possibility of politics of big influence. He emphasized that issues such as the importance of sovereign Europe, friendship with France, and partnership with the US would be key pillars of the government's foreign policy and that the long post-war tradition would be continued.
Among the steps that have been initially agreed upon is to make vaccination mandatory in places where especially vulnerable people are cared for. Germany has seen an increase in new cases of Kovid and political changes have somewhat hindered steps in this direction. Schultz said the new government would explore the possibility of politics of big influence. He emphasized that issues such as the importance of sovereign Europe, friendship with France, and partnership with the US would be key pillars of the government's foreign policy and the long post-war tradition would be continued.
Angela Merkel's era ends
Meanwhile, Green Party co-leader Robert Habeck said the government's steps would put Germany on the path to meeting the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Earlier it was said that the three parties negotiating to form the next government would finalize the alliance agreement on Wednesday. With this, the reign of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been ruling the country for a long time, will end and current Finance Minister and Social Democratic Party leader Olaf Schultz may take her place in the coming days.
The Social Democratic Party has been in talks with the Green Party and the Free Democrats since its modest victory in the national election on 26 September. The environmentalist Green Party and the Free Democratic Party said details of the agreement would be presented later Wednesday afternoon. Till now tripartite coalition has not been tried in any national government of the country. If members of the three parties finalize the agreement, it will replace the existing grand alliance of the country's traditional major parties. The Social Democratic Party has been a junior ally in the Merkel government.
Merkel had been leading Germany since 2005
Merkel was not in competition for a fifth term. Social Democratic leader Olaf Schultz could replace him. The three parties that joined the government said they expected parliament to elect Olaf Schultz as chancellor in the week beginning December 6. Before that, the agreement would need approval from members of all three parties.
News of the deal for the coalition came at a time when Merkel probably chaired her last cabinet meeting. Finance Minister Schultz presented a bouquet to 67-year-old Merkel, who has been leading Germany since 2005.
