Olaf Scholz

Olaf Scholz became Germany's ninth post-World War II chancellor on Dec. 8, opening a new era for the European Union's most populous nation and largest economy after Angela Merkel's 16-year tenure.

According to a document from the Office obtained by Bloomberg, Merkel recommends that people who have not been fully vaccinated be banned from going to restaurants, cinemas and shops that are not necessary.
She also calls for mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 starting in February 2022.

Germany needs further coronavirus restrictions to combat a record surge in infections and "get through this winter", the country's likely next leader Olaf Scholz said on Nov. 11, calling a national meeting to decide new curbs.

Germany is headed for weeks, if not months, of protracted coalition haggling as Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives insisted on Sept. 27 on trying to form a government even after losing to the Social Democrats in a tight race.

SPD leader Olaf Scholz says he has a clear mandate to form a government,

Germany braced for a period of political unpredictability on Sept. 27 after the Social Democrats narrowly won a general election but faced a rival claim to power from outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative camp.

Turkey and Germany have special relations due to the millions of Turks who immigrated 60 years ago, German social democrat politician Olaf Scholz told daily Hürriyet in an interview days before the Bundestag elections that will end the 16-year rule of Christian Democrat Chancellor Angela Merkel.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel surveyed what she called a "surreal, ghostly" scene in a devastated village on July 18, pledging quick financial aid and a redoubled political focus on curbing climate change as the death toll from floods in Western Europe climbed above 180.

Eurozone states that need aid from the bloc's bailout fund to tackle the coronavirus should get it quickly and be first subjected to visits from officials proposing policies like during the eurozone crisis, Germany's finance minister said.

German officials have agreed on a plan to shut down the nation's coal-fired power plants by the mid to late 2030s that will involve operators getting billions of euros in compensation, the government said Thursday.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz says coal industry operators will receive billions of euros in compensation.