Olaf Scholz set to be German chancellor, Merkel era ends

Incoming Govt Plans To Legalise Cannabis, Phase Out Coal By 2030

For the first time in 16 years,Germany will have a cen-ter-left government and a new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat (SPD), whose job will be to fill the shoes of Angela Merkel, the woman who made Germany indispensable in Europe and the world. After much anticipation, Scholz and his coalition partners from the progressive Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) stepped in front of the cameras on Wednesday to announce a 177-page governing deal they have negotiated under strict secrecy since the September 26 election.

They acknowledged their differences but said they had found enough common ground to push forward with plans to beat back the pandemic, increase the minimum wage and put Germany on a path to quit coal and expand renewable energy to 80% by 2030. The alliance — named a traffic light coalition after the three parties’ respective colours — has a majority in the lower house of parliament and hopes the government will be sworn in early next month after the parties ratify the coalition pact.