He did it, he was elected, a majority cast his vote. 395 members, announced Bundestag President Bärbel Bas. That is enough, it is easily enough, even if not all of the 416 future traffic light parliamentarians have voted for him. Some are sick, some may have grumbled after all. In the second of success, however, that doesn’t matter for the time being. Olaf Scholz is the new Chancellor, a new era begins in Germany.
Laughing openly – Scholz rarely or never does that. Smile quietly – he likes to do that. And now the more than 700 MPs get to see it. You could say in Berlin that he looks as proud as Bolle. If Scholz were not a Hanseatic League, that would be ideal now. There is even a little waving in the big round as an encore.
Loud applause follows. As always when a new (or a new) is elected Chancellor. Everyone is now doing this in a large group, it is part of the polite ritual of parliamentarism that the opposition also take part at this moment. Only the AfD waives – which is nothing really new at such moments.
Then comes the congratulations tour. Many now want to shake this hand, all want to show that they recognize the new Chancellor. First the own parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, then Ralph Brinkhaus, the Union parliamentary group leader, and then everyone else comes. The future Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, the future Vice Vice Chancellor Christian Lindner, and then pretty much everyone from the ranks of the traffic light parties. There is little that is surprising about that.
It is noteworthy, however, that the sad loser Armin Laschet (CDU) is also included. He is already the third person to stand with the new Chancellor. In general, the future simple MP from North Rhine-Westphalia shows what losing should look like. Polite, friendly, affectionate and in no way offended. Laschet, the ex-prime minister and ex-chancellor candidate, demonstrated this morning how well and decently it can go. Even if he doesn’t feel like laughing in his own heart that day.
Others, on the other hand, have every reason to enjoy their luck on this day. You can study that from the first minute this morning. It always looks a bit absurd behind the many white, gray or black masks. But the laughter and the shining eyes cannot be hidden even with masks. The SPD Minister Hubertus Heil pressed the new Justice Minister Marco Buschmann; The designated SPD leader Lars Klingbeil chats with the soon-to-be foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, and Claudia Roth and Olaf Scholz stand together to exchange a few good-humored words.
Merkel stands up, waves – and is visibly pleased with the applause
Naturally, this is especially pleasing to those who will rule in the future: Greens, liberals, social democrats. The first big applause of the day does not get the new traffic light, but the outgoing head of government. Angela Merkel, 16 years old Chancellor, is no longer allowed to be downstairs in the plenary hall; she no longer belongs to the new parliament. But she has taken a seat in the stands. And when the President of the Bundestag welcomes her – the session has barely opened – there is broad applause. First in the ranks of the Union, then with everyone in the hall (the only exception, of course: the AfD). Merkel stands up, waves, and is visibly pleased with the final applause.
The former Federal President Joachim Gauck and the former Bundestag President Norbert Lammert have taken their seats next to her. Behind her are several future ministers, as well as former parliamentarians – and in all of this one can watch a departing Chancellor chatting, looking cheerful, who is obviously happy about what she sees as a successful exit.
For Scholz it has been a long, wild, arduous journey. In the spring, the SPD candidate for Chancellor, who defiantly continued to fight at the time, was far behind, and only a few would have bet on a victory for the Social Democrats. Now he has made it after all, has been elected and is allowed to say the one powerful word: “Yes!”
Then he has to hurry. In the coming hours it will be going back and forth quickly. First, Scholz jets into Bellevue Palace to be appointed by the Federal President. Then it goes back to the Bundestag to take the oath on the constitution, back to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the ministers must receive their certificate in order to then take their oath in the Bundestag. A wild day of change, a happy day for the new Chancellor, an exciting new beginning for the country.
And an actor who can be happy that things are going pretty well for him too. What is meant is the Federal President, who after this day can justifiably hope to be elected again in February. He does not show open joy, he cannot show it. But he should be satisfied when the coming and going at Bellevue Palace is over on this day.