OLAF SCHOLZ

Merkel is stepping down after 16 years in power, as the German parliament elects Scholz as the next leader.

Germany New Government New elected German Chancellor Olaf Scholz holds his letter of appointment presented by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a reception at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Scholz has become Germany's ninth post-World War II chancellor, opening a new era for the European Union’s most populous nation and largest economy after Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (Michael Sohn)BERLIN — (AP) — Center-left leader Olaf Scholz became Germany's ninth post-World War II chancellor Wednesday, opening a new era for the European Union's most populous nation and largest economy after Angela Merkel's 16-year tenure. Scholz's government takes office with high hopes of modernizing Germany and combating climate change but faces the immediate challenge of handling the country's toughest phase yet of the coronavirus pandemic. Merkel, who is no longer a member of parliament, looked on from the spectators’ gallery as parliament voted.

Germany New Government Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats reacts after he was elected new German Chancellor in the German Parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (Photo/Stefanie Loos) (Stefanie Loos)BERLIN — (AP) — Olaf Scholz became Germany's ninth post-World War II chancellor Wednesday, opening a new era for the European Union's most populous nation and largest economy after Angela Merkel's 16-year tenure. Scholz was formally appointed by Germany's president, then returned to parliament to be sworn in. Merkel, who is no longer a member of parliament, looked on from the spectators’ gallery as parliament voted. Scholz told his party last weekend that “it was difficult” governing with Merkel's bloc, which his Social Democrats narrowly beat in Germany's September election.

Angela Merkel is credited with raising Germany’s profile and influence and working to hold a fractious European Union together.

Scholz will lead a 17-member Cabinet, with one more minister than Merkel's, made up of nine men and eight women. OLAF SCHOLZThe vice chancellor and finance minister in Merkel's government, Scholz propelled his center-left Social Democrats to an election win that appeared unlikely only months ago. Scholz, 63, is a former mayor of Hamburg and was Germany's labor minister during the global financial crisis. ANNALENA BAERBOCKThe Greens' other co-leader becomes Germany's first female foreign minister after running as the party's first candidate for the chancellery. The Social Democrats also have chosen outgoing Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht as defense minister.

Germany New Government Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats reacts after he was elected new German Chancellor in the German Parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. (Photo/Stefanie Loos) (Stefanie Loos)BERLIN — (AP) — Olaf Scholz became Germany's ninth post-World War II chancellor Wednesday, opening a new era for the European Union's most populous nation and largest economy after Angela Merkel's 16-year tenure. Scholz exchanged fist bumps with lawmakers from across the political spectrum before German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier formally appointed him as chancellor. Merkel, who is no longer a member of parliament, looked on from the spectators’ gallery as parliament voted. Scholz told his party last weekend that “it was difficult” governing with Merkel's bloc, which his Social Democrats narrowly beat in Germany's September election.

Olaf Scholz is set to take office as Germany’s ninth post-World War II chancellor and succeed Angela Merkel after her heralded 16-year tenure. Lawmakers voted by 395-303 to elect Scholz as chancellor, with six abstentions. He was to be formally named as chancellor by Germany’s president and sworn in by the speaker of parliament later Wednesday. Merkel, who is no longer a member of parliament, looked on from the spectators’ gallery as parliament voted. Scholz told his party last weekend that “it was difficult” governing with Merkel's bloc, which his Social Democrats narrowly beat in Germany's September election.

Scholz, a member of the socialist SPD party, will lead a three-party coalition with the Greens and the pro-business FDP party.

(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) (Markus Schreiber)BERLIN — (AP) — Olaf Scholz is set to take office Wednesday as Germany's ninth post-World War II chancellor, succeeding Angela Merkel after her heralded 16-year tenure. The 63-year-old Scholz, Germany's vice chancellor and finance minister since 2018, brings a wealth of experience and discipline to an untried coalition of his center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats. The coalition partners have 416 seats between them, so he should be assured of a comfortable majority. The coalition partners want to cut the voting age in national elections from 18 to 16. Scholz told his party last weekend that “it was difficult” governing with Merkel's bloc, which his Social Democrats narrowly beat in Germany's September election.

Germany New Government Designated German Chancellor Olaf Scholz smiles during a news conference after the signing of the coalition agreement with two other parties for new German government in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. A coalition of the Social Democratic Party, SPD, Green Party and the Free Democratic Party, FDP, will elect Olaf Scholz as new German Chancellor on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Scholz will need the support of at least 369 lawmakers in the 736-seat lower house of parliament to be elected as chancellor. The coalition partners have 416 seats between them, so he should be assured of a comfortable majority. The coalition partners want to cut the voting age in national elections from 18 to 16.

Scholz will lead a 17-member Cabinet, with one more minister than Merkel's, made up of nine men and eight women. OLAF SCHOLZThe vice chancellor and finance minister in Merkel's government, Scholz propelled his center-left Social Democrats to an election win that appeared unlikely only months ago. Scholz, 63, is a former mayor of Hamburg and was Germany's labor minister during the global financial crisis. ANNALENA BAERBOCKThe Greens' other co-leader becomes Germany's first female foreign minister after running as the party's first candidate for the chancellery. The Social Democrats also have chosen outgoing Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht as defense minister.

Olaf Scholz is expected to become Germany’s new chancellor on Wednesday at the head of a three-party coalition government, ending the 16-year era of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Olaf Scholz has become Germany's ninth post-World War II chancellor, opening a new era for the European Union’s most populous nation and largest economy after Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure.

Social Democratic politician Olaf Scholz will take over from center-right Angela Merkel as chancellor and will lead a coalition of three different parties in government.

BERLIN — (AP) — A three-party deal to form a new German coalition government under center-left leader Olaf Scholz cleared its final hurdle Monday, setting the scene for him to succeed longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel later this week. Germany's environmentalist Greens said their members approved the agreement reached last month, with 86% voting for it in a ballot. The other two parties — Scholz's center-left Social Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats — overwhelmingly backed the agreement at weekend conventions. Scholz will be elected as chancellor in parliament on Wednesday, ending the center-right Merkel's 16-year tenure. Lindner's party has a strong free market approach and successfully blocked putting a universal speed limit on German highways in the coalition agreement.

The Free Democrats reached an agreement last month to form a coalition with Scholz's Social Democrats and the environmentalist Greens, effectively crossing the aisle to ally with the two parties. After the Social Democrats backed it overwhelmingly on Saturday, only one more hurdle remains before parliament can elect Scholz on Wednesday. It also plans more liberal social policies, including legalizing the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes and easing the path to German citizenship, while pledging greater efforts to deport immigrants who don't win asylum. At the Free Democrats’ insistence, the prospective partners have said they won’t raise taxes or loosen curbs on running up debt. The Free Democrats governed West Germany as the Social Democrats' junior partner under Chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt from 1969 to 1982.

A three-party deal to form a new German government under center-left leader Olaf Scholz has cleared its final hurdle.

Scholz's Social Democrats narrowly won Germany's Sept. 26 election and launched negotiations with the Greens and the business-friendly Free Democrats to form a governing coalition that hasn't been tried before at the federal level. He said the government aims “to work together in a friendly way and be re-elected.”The convention backed the coalition deal by 598 votes to seven, with three abstentions. He will lead what is known as a “traffic light” coalition after the parties' colors of red, green and yellow. Before that can happen, members of the three parties need to approve the coalition deal. Unlike the other two parties, the Social Democrats haven't yet named their remaining seven Cabinet nominees, who will include the interior, defense and health ministers.

Germany Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel makes a speech at the Defence Ministry during the Grand Tattoo (Grosser Zapfenstreich), a ceremonial send-off for her, in Berlin on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. The measures include excluding unvaccinated people across the country from nonessential stores, restaurants and sports and cultural venues. At least 68.9% of Germans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, short of the government's aim of a minimum 75% vaccination rate. The number of unvaccinated residents has been blamed as a key factor in a surge of new virus cases in recent weeks. “Every one of them leaves behind families or friends, stunned, speechless and helpless,” Merkel said in her video message.

Merkel said authorities plan to require staff in hospitals and nursing homes to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and she backed the even more contentious idea of imposing a general vaccine mandate. “In light of this situation, I really think it's necessary to pass such a mandate,” Merkel said, adding that she would have voted for it if she were still a lawmaker. Just months ago, Merkel suggested that a vaccine mandate would not be effective, but she did not rule out the possibility. Austria, which recently imposed even stricter measures on unvaccinated people as part of a 20-day lockdown, also plans to have a vaccine mandate by February. In Germany, unvaccinated people will still be able to meet in private settings, but only in very limited numbers.

Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel has made what is likely her final appeal before leaving office next week for Germans to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

German Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz's center-left party has given its overwhelming approval to a deal to form a new government with environmentalist and pro-business parties.

The two-month transition, with outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel as caretaker, has been blamed for Germany's slow response to the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. Hours before Tuesday's meeting, Germany's top court strengthened politicians' hand by rejecting complaints against curfews and other restrictions imposed earlier this year. A limited vaccine mandate for some facilities is already in the works, but German officials had hesitated to make it compulsory for everyone, fearing pushback from those opposed to the shot. Officials stressed the need to step up Germany's vaccination campaign and allow more people to perform vaccinations. “Final decisions” need to be hammered out at the meeting of national and state leaders on Thursday, he said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel describes the far-reaching measures as an act of "national solidarity".

"The situation is our country is serious," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, calling the measure an "act of national solidarity."

Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on Germans to stand up to hatred, at a military ceremony bidding her farewell after 16 years in office.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says people who aren’t vaccinated will soon be excluded from nonessential stores, restaurants and sports and cultural venues.

The chief of the European Union’s executive arm says EU nations should consider making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory because too many people still refuse to get shots voluntarily.

Germany’s next chancellor says he will back a proposal to mandate coronavirus vaccinations for everybody next year.

Germany Politics Social Democratic Party, SPD, chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz speaks at a joint news conference in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. The 63-year-old on Wednesday sealed a deal for his center-left Social Democrats to lead Germany's next government in a coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats. The same device served it well during the coronavirus pandemic, in which Scholz has helped guide Germany's economic response as finance minister. As finance minister, Scholz was a driving force behind moves to place a global minimum tax of at least 15% on large companies and led efforts to cushion the pandemic’s financial impact. The pragmatic Scholz ran for the Social Democrats’ leadership in 2019 but was spurned by members in favor of a left-leaning duo, Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans.

Olaf Scholz is set to become post-World War II Germany’s ninth chancellor, crowning a career that has seen him serve in a string of top government posts, after leading his party to an election comeback that appeared hugely unlikely just a few months ago.

Virus Outbreak Germany 100K Deaths FILE - A woman lights candles forming a giant cross in memory of coronavirus victims in Germany in Zella-Mehlis, Germany, April 17, 2020. Doctors and virologists have been warning for months that Germany faces a surge in new cases that could overwhelm its health care system, even as senior politicians politicians dangled the prospect of further lifting pandemic restrictions. "Nobody had the guts to take the lead and announce unpopular measures,” said Uwe Janssens, who heads the intensive care department at the St. Antonius hospital in Eschweiler, west of Cologne. Doctors like Janssens are bracing for an influx of coronavirus patients as confirmed cases hit fresh daily highs that experts say is also being fueled by vaccine skeptics. “We’ve increasingly got younger people in intensive care,” said Janssens.

The deal paves the way for center-left leader Olaf Scholz to replace longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel in the coming weeks. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP) (Michael Kappeler)BERLIN — (AP) — Three German parties have reached a deal to form a new government that will end the era of longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to Olaf Scholz, who is poised to replace her. Scholz, of the center-left Social Democrats, said he expects that members of the parties will give their blessing to the deal in the next 10 days. The Social Democrats have been negotiating with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats since narrowly winning a national election on Sept. 26. The Social Democrats have served as the junior partner to Merkel’s center-right Christian Democrats.

A coalition deal has been announced in Germany after almost two months of talks following the country's federal election in September.

Germany Politics Olaf Scholz, SPD candidate for Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance, arrives for the presentation of the coalition agreement, in Berlin, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. The three parties negotiating to form Germany's next government will finalize and present their coalition agreement Wednesday, two of the prospective partners said. The deal paves the way for center-left leader Olaf Scholz to replace longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel in the coming weeks. The deal paves the way for center-left leader Olaf Scholz to replace longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel in the coming weeks. Before that can happen, the coalition deal requires approval from a ballot of the Greens’ roughly 125,000-strong membership and from conventions of the other two parties.

The three-way alliance is expected to be unveiled Wednesday and reportedly paves the way for center-left leader Olaf Scholz to replace longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel.

BERLIN — (AP) — The three parties negotiating to form Germany's next government will finalize and present their coalition agreement Wednesday, two of the prospective partners said. The deal paves the way for center-left leader Olaf Scholz to replace longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel in the coming weeks. The center-left Social Democrats have been negotiating with the environmentalist Green party and the pro-business Free Democrats since narrowly winning a national election on Sept. 26. Before that can happen, the coalition deal requires approval from a ballot of the Greens’ membership and from conventions of the other two parties. At the Free Democrats’ insistence, the prospective partners said they won’t raise taxes or loosen curbs on running up debt, making financing a central issue.

Three German parties have reached a deal to form a new government that will end the era of longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany is inching toward the mark of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19.

Virus Outbreak Germany Red Cross worker Motasen Edrees stands in front of a tent at City Hall where he performs Corona rapid tests in Biberach, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Infections have multiplied so quickly in recent days that hospitals in the hardest-hit regions canceled scheduled surgeries to allow medical personnel to focus on COVID-19 patients. The institute also reported 237 daily COVID-19 deaths, bringing Germany’s pandemic death toll to 97,198. “In Germany, I must say, unfortunately, that our vaccination rate isn’t high enough to prevent the fast spread of the virus,” Chancellor Angela Merkel said late Wednesday. Other virus measures include free tests, daily or frequent testing at nursing homes and schools and tougher enforcement of measures.

Germany’s national disease control center has reported a record-high number of more than 50,000 daily coronavirus cases.

Germany Politics FILE - General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party Lars Klingbeil talks during the election campaign in Cologne, Germany, Sept. 24, 2021. On Monday, top party officials proposed that Lars Klingbeil, the party's general secretary since 2017, replace Walter-Borjans as Esken's co-leader. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) (Martin Meissner)BERLIN — (AP) — Germany’s Social Democrats, the country’s main center-left party, is set to make the manager of its successful election campaign one of its leaders. Scholz's relative popularity helped the Social Democrats to a narrow election win over Merkel's center-right Union bloc in September. The Social Democrats' leaders were more optimistic.

Germany’s Social Democrats, the country's main center-left party, is set to make the manager of its successful election campaign one of its leaders.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she is satisfied with the timing of her departure after 16 years at the helm of the country and is now looking forward to dedicating time to things she had to neglect during her chancellorship.

The German parliament will not extend the “epidemic situation of national scope” when it expires next month, but will keep in place certain measures to check the spread of the coronavirus.

Germany Parliament Lawmakers attend the first plenary session of the German parliament Bundestag after the elections, Berlin, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. (Photo/Markus Schreiber) (Markus Schreiber)BERLIN — (AP) — Germany’s newly elected parliament held its first meeting Tuesday and elected a lawmaker from the center-left Social Democratic Party as speaker of the 736-member lower house, or Bundestag. Merkel's Union bloc finished behind the Social Democrats in Germany's federal election last month. “The citizens are looking to us, and their expectations of parliament are rightly high," Wolfgang Schaeuble, the previous parliament speaker, said. Her successor would be Olaf Scholz, who propelled the Social Democrats to a narrow election victory on Sept. 26.

Germany Parliament The building of German parliament, the Reichstag, is illuminated in Berlin, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. Following the Sept. 26 national elections, the parliament Bundestag meet for a constituent parliamentary session. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) (Markus Schreiber)BERLIN — (AP) — Germany’s newly elected parliament is set to hold its first meeting on Tuesday. The 736-member lower house, or Bundestag, is expected to elect as its new speaker Baerbel Bas of the center-left Social Democrats, which emerged from last month’s election as the strongest party. Her successor will be Olaf Scholz, who propelled the Social Democrats to a narrow election victory on Sept. 26.

Angela Merkel took a step closer to political retirement Tuesday after receiving her formal dismissal certificate from the post of chancellor after 16 years in office.

Germany Politics Olaf Scholz, center, of the German Social Democratic party (SPD) arrives for coalition negotiations with representatives of the German Green party (Die Gruenen) and the German Liberals (FDP) in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. The center-left Social Democrats, environmentalist Greens and pro-business Free Democrats opened formal coalition talks following a preliminary deal last week, which set out their priorities but left many open questions. Her successor will be Olaf Scholz, who propelled the Social Democrats to a narrow election victory on Sept. 26. German coalition talks are an elaborate affair, producing an agreement that sets out details of the government's program for its four-year term. In this case, the Free Democrats — who for four decades have mostly allied with the center-right — are linking up with two traditionally left-leaning parties.

The three parties that hope to form Germany’s new government say they aim to have the country’s next chancellor in place in early December, but acknowledge that they face a complex task.

The once fearsome hawk has resigned as head of Germany’s Bundesbank. It is a signal that another species rules the roost now.

The head of Germany’s central bank has announced that he will step down after a decade at the helm.

The SPD, the Greens and the FDP want to agree on a basis for decision-making for coalition negotiations that summarizes the outcome of the negotiations so far. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) (Kay Nietfeld)BERLIN — (AP) — Three German parties aim to open formal coalition talks after all made gains in last month's election, moving a step closer to a new government that would send outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right bloc into opposition. The center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats on Friday wrapped up just over a week of three-way exploratory talks and agreed they have enough common ground to recommend moving on to full-fledged coalition negotiations. If the talks are ultimately successful, Social Democrat Olaf Scholz — the finance minister and vice chancellor in the outgoing government — will become Germany's new leader. Scholz pulled the Social Democrats out of a long poll slump to win Germany's Sept. 26 election by a narrow margin.

Three German parties have announced that they aim to open formal coalition talks, moving a big step closer to a new government that would send outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right bloc into opposition.

In Britain as in the U.S., the upbeat optimist tends to triumph over the gloomy technocrat.

A leader of the Greens say the multiparty talks on forming a new German government have “a long way to go” and will have to bridge significant policy differences.

Both prospective junior partners — the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats — said a coalition with the Union isn’t off the table. Germany’s Sept. 26 election left two parties as likely kingmakers: the Greens, who finished third, and the Free Democrats, who finished fourth. On Wednesday, the Greens said they had proposed to the Free Democrats holding three-way exploratory talks with the Social Democrats. A little later, the Free Democrats said they had accepted, though their leader, Christian Lindner, sounded more cautious. The Free Democrats oppose raising taxes and loosening Germany’s tight rules on running up public debt while the Social Democrats and Greens want to raise taxes for top earners and increase the minimum wage.

Germany’s Sept. 26 election left two parties as likely kingmakers: the Greens, who finished third, and the business-friendly Free Democrats, who finished fourth. On Wednesday, the Greens said they had proposed to the Free Democrats holding three-way exploratory talks with the Social Democrats. A little later, the Free Democrats said they had accepted — though leader Christian Lindner sounded more cautious about the prospect. The Free Democrats oppose raising taxes and loosening Germany’s tight rules on running up public debt. In Europe, the Free Democrats have tended to take a stricter line on financial aid to struggling countries.

A delegation from outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc met with the environmentalist Greens on Tuesday for exploratory talks on the formation of a new German government. The Sept. 26 election left two parties as likely kingmakers: the Greens, who finished third, and the business-friendly Free Democrats, who finished fourth. The Greens traditionally lean to the left, while the Free Democrats in recent decades have mostly allied with the Union. The Greens' leaders said they have now proposed to the Free Democrats that the two parties go into three-way talks with Scholz's Social Democrats. The Free Democrats were expected to make a statement later Wednesday.

The two parties that emerged as likely kingmakers from Germany’s election last month say they will hold talks on a possible new government under the leadership of outgoing center-left Social Democrats.

Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right bloc has sought to win over the environmentalist Greens for a possible new governing coalition in Germany.

Brexit was named as one of the key reasons for the shortage of HGV drivers in the U.K., but there are deeper issues.

As negotiations continue, it helps that Germans have experience building coalitions and that the largest parties aren’t extreme.

Germany Election The German national flag waves from the top of the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Sept.27, 2021. Some polling stations ran out of ballot papers during the day, while others received ones for the wrong district. This led to a large share of ballots being declared invalid in some polling stations. The top election official in Berlin state announced her resignation Wednesday. Martin Sonneborn, a European lawmaker, said Thursday that his satirical party, The Party, would be challenging the vote.

Numerous election day glitches in the German capital have prompted calls for the result to be scrutinized.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has congratulated Olaf Scholz, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, on his party's election success.

Angela Merkel will leave office in the coming months with her popularity intact, despite her party’s dismal election result.

Both Social Democrat Olaf Scholz and Armin Laschet, the candidate of Merkel's party, laid a claim to leading the next government. In recent decades, the Greens have tended toward the center-left Social Democrats of narrow election winner Olaf Scholz. The Free Democrats have tended toward Merkel's center-right Union bloc, which finished second under would-be successor Armin Laschet — its worst-ever result. The Social Democrats have said they would like to start exploratory talks as early as this week. Merkel's current coalition came about after the 2017 election when Lindner pulled the plug on talks on a possible alliance with the chancellor's Union and the Greens.

The two parties that are expected to determine who will become Germany’s next chancellor have started talks to bridge their differences and declared that they got off to a good start.

Scholz, the outgoing vice chancellor, said Monday that he wants a new government before Christmas if possible. Forming a government can take weeks or months in Germany as parties thrash out in detail the new coalition's plans. Laschet's Union bloc also is holding a meeting of its lawmakers later Tuesday, with recriminations likely after a disastrous campaign. Some want to govern, I think — others don't.”There have been some calls for Laschet to resign as leader of the Christian Democratic Union, the dominant party in the Union bloc, but not so far from prominent figures. Soeder, who leads the Union's smaller party, the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union, congratulated Scholz on finishing ahead.

The narrow winners of Sunday's parliamentary election, the center-left Social Democrats of Olaf Scholz, underlined their hopes of a quick start to talks with the likely kingmakers in a new government. And several prominent figures in Merkel's center-right Union bloc questioned an initial push by election loser Armin Laschet to lead a new administration. Forming a government can take weeks or months in Germany as parties thrash out in detail the new coalition's plans. Laschet's Union bloc also is holding a meeting of its lawmakers later Tuesday, with recriminations likely after a disastrous campaign. Some want to govern, I think — others don't.”There have been some calls for Laschet to resign as leader of his Christian Democratic Union, the dominant party in the Union bloc, but not so far from prominent figures.

Germany's political status quo is about to be overhauled.

Following Sunday's election leaders of the German parties were meeting Monday to digest a result that saw Merkel’s Union bloc slump to its worst-ever result in a national election and appeared to put the keys to power in the hands of two opposition parties. Both Social Democrat Olaf Scholz and Armin Laschet, the candidate of Merkel's party, laid a claim to leading the next government. The narrow winners of Sunday's parliamentary election, the center-left Social Democrats of Olaf Scholz, underlined their hopes of a quick start to talks with the likely kingmakers in a new government. And several prominent figures in Merkel's Union bloc questioned an initial push by election loser Armin Laschet to lead a new administration. Laschet's Union bloc also is holding a meeting of its lawmakers later Tuesday, with recriminations likely after a disastrous campaign.

Germany’s newly elected lawmakers are holding their first meetings as their parties digest the fallout of the election that reduced outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s bloc to its worst-ever result.

Pressure is growing for a quick start to talks on Germany’s next government as newly elected lawmakers hold their first meetings and tensions simmer in outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s bloc, which declined to its worst-ever result in the country's election.

Europe Coalition Building FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 19 2021 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks, at Mt. That has resulted in a string of coalition governments, usually led by the largest party in parliament. Leaders of the largest parties have failed to cobble together a coalition able to command a majority in the lower house of parliament and are now looking at forming a minority government. That has resulted in a string of coalition governments, usually led by the largest party in parliament. The Netherlands and Belgium, with their history of post-election coalition building, have found ways of running their countries without a fully functioning government.

As Europe’s economic powerhouse Germany embarks on the task of piecing together a new ruling coalition after Sunday’s knife-edge election, observers need only look to its neighbors, Belgium and the Netherlands, to see how tricky the process can be.

<em>Cancel culture</em> is a murky term. As Anne Applebaum argues, the mob justice it can sometimes refer to is real, but the phrase is too broad and has been unhelpfully politicized.

CBS news foreign correspondent Chris Liversay reports the race to succeed Angela Merkel and her legacy as Germany's leader for 16 years. Then, Lilla Balint, an assistant professor of German in the Department of German at University of California, Berkeley joins Tanya Rivero on CBSN to discuss how a new government could shake up politics in Germany and across Europe.

Olaf Scholz is poised to be the first new leader of the country in 16 years.

Germany’s voters have delivered their verdict.

The party that narrowly beat outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s bloc is pushing for a quick agreement on a coalition government, but Europe’s biggest economy could still be in for weeks of uncertainty after an election that failed to set a clear direction.

The center-left Social Democrats have won the biggest share of the vote in Germany’s national election, beating outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Union bloc in a closely fought race.

The center-left Social Democrats have won the biggest share of the vote in Germany’s national election, beating outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Union bloc in a closely fought race.

Germany’s closely fought election on Sunday will set the direction of the European Union’s most populous country after 16 years under Angela Merkel.

The contenders to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor have sought to mobilize voters as the election campaign neared its close, touting their credentials to lead Europe’s biggest economy into a new era as it grapples with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.

The three candidates hoping to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor, and the four leaders of the other parties currently in parliament, have clashed over a variety of topics during the last televised debate before Sunday's election.

For the first time in Germany, climate change is perhaps the most dominant issue in an election campaign, especially for young voters.

Germany's election campaign has largely focused on the three candidates hoping to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor after four terms in office.

German voters elect a new parliament on Sept. 26 in a vote that will determine who succeeds Chancellor Angela Merkel after her 16 years in power.

French President Emmanuel Macron has met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris to discuss international crises and European issues.

The center-right candidate hoping to succeed Angela Merkel as Germany's chancellor is celebrating his party’s narrow victory in local elections in a northern German state.

Germany is seeing its first three-way contest for the chancellery, with the environmentalist Greens joining the country’s two traditional big parties in fielding a candidate for the top job.

The frontrunner to replace Angela Merkel as German chancellor has faced tough questions over whether his ministry had a role in obstructing money-laundering probes.

Climate change is among the top concerns for Germans going into this year’s national election that will determine who replaces Angela Merkel as chancellor.

Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel has painted a rosy picture of her government’s record and assailed the possibility of a future left-wing administration.

North Carolina health officials on Tuesday released a report showing 170 ongoing COVID-19 clusters in K-12 schools or child care settings.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed full support for Armin Laschet, the center-right Union bloc’s candidate hoping to succeed her as chancellor in this month’s German election.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she would never govern with support from the Left party.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s struggling would-be heir has hit back at suggestions that a center-left rival is better qualified for the job after a televised debate failed to give him a clear breakthrough.