Germany has a new Chancellor. But who is he actually? What does Olaf Scholz stand for? And what can we expect from him as Chancellor?
After 16 years, the Merkel era has come to an end. With the new Chancellor, a Social Democrat is once again head of state. Many were surprised by his election victory. Scholz, after all, is a great unknown in German politics. Mark Schieritz, an economic correspondent for Die ZEIT with an intimate knowledge of the German political landscape, explains the man, the politician, and the Chancellor Scholz, whose reign heralds a new era. The pandemic and climate change are examples of the immense global challenges we face today. How will Scholz and his “traffic light coalition” deal with them?
With great analytical skill and journalistic expertise, ZEIT journalist Schieritz explains how Scholz works; what drives the new Chancellor; and how Germany might change with this new man at the helm. Schieritz’s conclusion: against the backdrop of a paradigm shift in the economy, Scholz has modernized the social democratic platform and brought the topic of social justice back to the political center-stage. He could become a Chancellor of a new awakening – if he dares.
“Olaf Scholz has always wanted to get to the bottom of things. In this fascinating book, Mark Schieritz
shows how the Chancellor avidly pursues new ideas in order to effect social justice.” Gesine Schwan
