Schroeder takes charge

BONN, Oct 27: Germany embraced a historic power change today with the election of Social Democrat Gerhard Schroeder as chancellor by parl...

BONN, Oct 27: Germany embraced a historic power change today with the election of Social Democrat Gerhard Schroeder as chancellor by parliament at the head of a Centre-Left government with the Greens.

Schroeder was elected chancellor with 351 votes by the new parliament’s lower chamber, the Bundestag. There were 287 votes cast against him and 27 deputies abstained.

Given that Schroeder’s Red-Green coalition has 345 seats, he apparently received support from members of the former East German Communist Party in the secret vote.

Story continues below this ad

The Bundestag has 669 members and at least 335 votes were required to become chancellor.

“Gerhard Schroeder has been elected chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany,” declared Wolfgang Thierse, the Bundestag president, adding: “Herr Schroeder, do you accept the election result?”

Schroeder replied: “Ja, I accept the election.”

Schroeder replaces Conservative chancellor Helmut Kohl, who served a record 16 years in office, and will be the third Social Democratic(SPD) German leader since World War II. Previous SPD chancellors were Willy Brandt (1969-1974) and Helmut Schmidt (1974-1982).

A former lower saxony state premier, Schroeder, 54, was the first post-war election candidate to defeat an incumbent chancellor in last month’s general election.

Story continues below this ad

Schroeder heads Germany’s first ever federal government with the environmental, Pacifist Greens Party. His 16-member Cabinet will have three Green ministers including Joschka Fischer as foreign minister and deputy chancellor.

Following his election by the Bundestag, Schroeder was due to receive a formal letter of appointment from federal president, Roman Herzog. He will then be sworn into office by Thierse.

The Cabinet ministers will be appointed afterward and control of the Bonn chancellery will be handed over to Schroeder. There will be no time for celebrations: the new Cabinet’s first session will be held on Tuesday evening.

Kohl’s government formally left office yesterday but the ex-chancellor stays on in acaretaker position until Schroeder is actually sworn in.

Story continues below this ad

Domestic issues dominate Schroeder’s plans for the upcoming four-year term.

Schroeder has vowed to cut Germany’s near record unemployment of over 10 per cent and has told voters that if he fails to do so they should not re-elect him in 2002.

On foreign policy, Schroeder stresses continuity and backs European integration, the NATO alliance and Transatlantic relations.

He also supports deployment of German troops on internationally approved peacekeeping for peacemaking missions. This includes allowing Luftwaffe warplanes to take part in a future NATO mission in Kosovo.