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Lindner, Scholz, Baerbock and Habeck
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
Olaf Scholz is not yet Chancellor.
Almost two months after the federal election, the SPD, Greens and FDP presented their coalition agreement.
It will take some time before a joint government under Scholz's leadership can begin.
This is the further traffic light timetable:
Personnel decisions:
A coalition agreement regulates which party should lead which ministry. However, the names of the department heads are not included - although some names are considered to be set (read more about this here). Announcing these is traditionally a matter for the parties. The Greens have already announced the presentation of their team for this Thursday.
The FDP federal executive proposed on Wednesday party leader Christian Lindner as federal finance minister. Secretary General Volker Wissing is to become Federal Minister for Transport and Digital, the First Parliamentary Managing Director of the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Marco Buschmann, Federal Minister of Justice. The parliamentary managing director Bettina Stark-Watzinger is to take over the Federal Ministry of Education. The likely future Chancellor Olaf Scholz left the SPD ministerial posts open on Wednesday.
Approval of the parties:
What the party leaderships have negotiated has yet to be confirmed.
The SPD and FDP have party conferences on the weekend of 4th / 5th for this.
December planned.
In the case of the Greens, the members will decide on the coalition agreement and the personnel board.
The strike vote should begin this Thursday and last ten days.
Chancellor election:
If everyone has agreed, Scholz can be elected Chancellor by the Bundestag.
The date should be in the week from December 6th.
Apparently the aim is to hold the election by December 8th at the latest, since international obligations for the new Chancellor and Foreign Minister are due on December 10th.
Appointment and swearing-in of the cabinet:
On the day of the election of the Chancellor, the cabinet is appointed by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and sworn in in the Bundestag.
Handover of office:
It is expected that Angela Merkel will hand over official duties to Scholz in the Chancellery on the same day.
Most of the handover in the ministries should take place on the following day.
Get to work:
The Cabinet's first working session will take place very soon after the handover.
One topic is already foreseeable: Corona.
It was not for nothing that Scholz presented measures at the presentation of the coalition agreement with which the new government wants to break the fourth corona wave.
Introduction abroad:
Scholz will quickly want to introduce himself as Chancellor to the most important partners abroad.
He has announced that his first trip as head of government will be to Paris.
On December 10th, Scholz is likely to meet US President Joe Biden for the first time - at least virtually, at a video summit for democracy.
A G7 meeting in Liverpool, England, is on the program for the new foreign minister from December 10th to 12th.
Germany will take over the presidency in the group of large western industrialized countries next year.
as / dpa