Olaf Scholz elected chancellor as Germany's coalition government takes office

Germany's Bundestag elected Olaf Scholz as federal chancellor on 8 December 2021. The Social Democratic leader received the required majority in a secret ballot and was appointed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier before taking the oath of office with his cabinet.

The vote followed the September federal election, in which the SPD narrowly won the largest share of party-list votes. Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats negotiated a coalition agreement setting out their joint programme. The Bundestag's election, not the popular vote alone, constitutionally installed the [chancellor.

Scholz](/people/olaf-scholz) succeeded Angela Merkel after sixteen years in office. Merkel had remained in a caretaker role during government formation. The transition joined parties with different positions on fiscal policy, climate, social programmes and foreign affairs, making their written coalition agreement an important but not self-executing statement of intent.

The parliamentary record confirms the ballot and appointment. Ministers were appointed on the chancellor's proposal, completing the federal government on the same day. Later policy choices should be assessed individually rather than inferred from the act of forming the coalition.

This News item is distinct from the election result and the earlier signing of the coalition agreement. It records the constitutional transfer of executive leadership. Calling it an election victory for Scholz without that sequence would obscure Germany's parliamentary system and the negotiations required to secure a majority.