This is how the Chancellor Election Day went: Bundestag, Bellevue, Bundestag, Bellevue, Chancellery

Read the video transcript here

Bärbel Bas (SPD), President of the Bundestag:

»And so that I don't have to make 736 calls to order, I allow everyone to take photos of all MPs for this day.

But please be discreet!

But now to the important part: Voted yes: 395 MPs ... «

Olaf Scholz is the new Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany - and thus the ninth.

His predecessor, the eighth, had 16 years in office.

Before parliament elected Olaf Scholz as her successor, the members of parliament thanked her for her work with long applause.

Bärbel Bas, President of the Bundestag (SPD):

"I greet the Executive Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel in the official gallery."

Only the AfD parliamentary group remained seated.

The parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel congratulated the new chancellor - unlike the chancellor at first.

She is no longer a member of parliament.

That is why she was not allowed to go downstairs to the Bundestag meeting room.

The congratulations should work out later.

But first of all, Olaf Scholz had to go.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented him with the certificate of appointment at Bellevue Palace.

Then it went back to the Bundestag.

There the President of the Bundestag took the oath of office from him.

Bärbel Bas (SPD), President of the Bundestag:

»I hold the original of the Basic Law in my hands.

I ask you to speak the formula prescribed in Article 56. "

Olaf Scholz (SPD), Federal Chancellor:

»I swear that I will devote my energies to the well-being of the German people, increase their benefits, prevent damage from them, uphold and defend the Basic Law and federal laws, conscientiously fulfill my duties and deal with justice everyone will practice. "

Bärbel Bas (SPD), President of the Bundestag:

»Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Good luck in your job. "

Scholz renounced the religious formula "so help me God".

As the first non-denominational Chancellor, he took a seat on the empty government bench.

Before the traffic light ministers were allowed to sit down with him, they too had to be appointed by the Federal President.

So back to Bellevue Palace.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal President:

»You have made a lot of progress, a lot of reform and a lot of change.

There is no doubt that Germany faces major challenges.

Whether climate change or digitization, international competition or migration.

Our answers today, in other words: Your answers over the next few years will shape the future face of our country. "

Around February 15, almost five hours after his election, the now officially former Chancellor Merkel was finally able to personally congratulate Olaf Scholz.

At the last stop on Chancellor Election Day: the Federal Chancellery.

Angela Merkel (CDU), Former Chancellor:

»Congratulations, dear Chancellor, dear Olaf Scholz.

I know from my own experience that it is a moving moment to be elected to this office.

You may sense that it is an exciting, fulfilling task, also a demanding task.

But if you do it with joy, then it is perhaps also one of the most beautiful tasks there is. "

She handed over the official seat to him, he handed her flowers.

Olaf Scholz (SPD), Federal Chancellor:

“I'm looking forward to my new role, I'm looking forward to everyone who works here.

And it should be a good start for our country, at least I want to do everything for it. "

And while his predecessor left the Chancellery for the last time, Olaf Scholz was allowed to stay for the first time that day - just stay.