Scholz promises 'new beginning'

The German parliament elected Olaf Scholz as chancellor yesterday, turning the page on 16 years with Angela Merkel at the helm as a new center-left-led coalition takes the wheel of Europe's top economy.

Scholz, who won 395 of the 707 votes cast in the Bundestag lower house, has pledged broad "continuity" with the popular Merkel while making Germany greener and fairer.

China's President Xi Jinping congratulated Scholz, saying Beijing was willing to work with the new chancellor to "promote bilateral ties to a new level."

"China is willing to consolidate and deepen political mutual trust, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields with Germany," Xi told Scholz, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The finance minister under Merkel led his Social Democrats to victory in the September 26 election - an outcome considered unthinkable early this year given the party's then festering divisions and anemic support.

Scholz, 63, had cobbled together the country's first "traffic light" coalition with the ecologist Greens and the liberal Free Democrats. "We have a chance for a new beginning," Scholz told his party in the weekend as it gave its blessing to the coalition agreement.

The alliance aims to slash carbon emissions, overhaul decrepit digital infrastructure, modernize citizenship laws, lift the minimum wage and legalize marijuana.

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Scholz while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to building a "strong Europe." Vladimir Putin said Russia was offering "constructive ties" with the new government.

Germany's incoming foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, has pledged a tougher line with Russia and China.

Greens co-leader Baerbock is one of eight women in the cabinet.

Scholz and his team promise stability as France braces for its presidential election next year and Europe grapples with the enduring aftershocks of Brexit.

Merkel, 67, Germany's first female chancellor, is retiring from politics after four consecutive terms.