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1/11
A selfie on a historic day: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig and her Rhineland-Palatinate counterpart Malu Dreyer pose with the Federal Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz in the Bundestag.
Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
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2/11
The new Bundestag comprises 736 members.
They had to vote on the new Bundestag.
Photo: Achille Abboud / IMAGO
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3/11
The outgoing Chancellor followed the election of her successor in the stands.
Also present: Ex-Federal President Joachim Gauck and the former President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Thierse.
Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
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4/11
Representatives of the outgoing and the new government: Merkel in conversation with Robert Habeck, the new Vice Chancellor, and the future head of the Chancellery, Wolfgang Schmidt.
Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
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5/11
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was also present with his wife Soyeon Schröder-Kim and followed the meeting.
Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
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6/11
These two are likely to be decisive for the architecture of the traffic light government: Scholz and his vice Robert Habeck - together with FDP leader Christian Lindner, they are the leading figures of the new government.
Photo: Florian Gaertner / photothek / IMAGO
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7/11
In view of the corona pandemic, he is also likely to have one of the key personalities of the traffic light coalition: Karl Lauterbach, the new Minister of Health, in conversation with Scholz.
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
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8/11
The new Chancellor: Olaf Scholz would have needed 369 votes to become head of government.
He got 395.
Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP
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9/11
While Scholz was sitting, numerous MPs stood up and applauded.
Photo: Fabrizio Bensch / REUTERS
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10/11
Scholz not only received congratulations, but also flowers, for example from the SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich.
Photo: Fabrizio Bensch / REUTERS
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11/11
Scholz also received a basket of apples - a rather unusual gift.
Photo:
Sean Gallup / Getty Images