Olaf Scholz takes over from Merkel as Germany's Chancellor

Highlights:

• Parliament of Germany has elected Olaf Scholz as the ninth post-World War II chancellor, on December 8, 2021.
• This has opened a new era for Germany after 16-year tenure of Angela Merkel.
• Detailed analysis:
• Government of Olaf Scholz took office with high hopes of modernising Germany and combating climate change. however, it faces the immediate challenge of handling Covid-19 pandemic.
• Scholz was voted by Lawmakers by 395-303 for the office of chancellor, with six abstentions.
• Olaf’s three-party coalition has won 416 seats in the 736-seat lower house of parliament.
• The Chancellor of Germany is officially called as the federal chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany. 
• He is the head of federal government of Germany. 
• He also acts as the commander in chief of German Armed Forces during wartime. 
• He is the chief executive of Federal Cabinet and heads its executive branch.

• Olaf Scholz is a German politician, who is serving as Chancellor of Germany since December 8, 2021. 
• He is the member of Social Democratic Party (SPD). 
• He earlier served as the vice chancellor to Angela Merkel, as well as the finance minister from 2018 to 2021. He also held the office of First Mayor of Hamburg in between 2011 to 2018.