Olaf Scholz Officially <br />Succeeds Merkel , as Chancellor of Germany.<br />Olaf Scholz Officially <br />Succeeds Merkel , as Chancellor of Germany.<br />Scholz formally took the reins of the <br />German chancellorship on Dec. 8.<br />His swearing-in brings 16 years of <br />Angela Merkel's leadership to an end.<br />In passing the role to Scholz.<br />Merkel advised the new chancellor to perform the position "with joy.".<br />Scholz tweeted after taking the oath.<br />I said 'yes.', Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, via BBC News.<br />In addition to a new chancellor, .<br />Scholz's swearing-in means a new coalition of political parties now comprise the German government.<br />It is now made up of Scholz's Social Democrats.<br />the Green Party...<br />... and the Free Democrats.<br />Merkel's political <br />career spanned more <br />than three decades.<br />Her political party, the Christian Democrats, now finds itself in a minority position in the German Bundestag.<br />Among the prominent issues facing Scholz and the new government... .<br />... are the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions <br />between Ukraine and Russia
