Olaf Scholz remains acting Chancellor of Germany until his successor is elected, despite the ceremony of his official resignation having took place
This decision is enshrined in German legislation and is prompted by the significant political circumstances currently unfolding in the country. According to information received from sources of "European Truth" and referencing the well-known German tabloid Spiegel, the situation arose after the lower house of parliament of the country failed to unanimously elect a new chancellor within the legally stipulated timeframe. The source reports that, in accordance with Article 69 of the Basic Law of Germany, the current chancellor is required to continue performing his duties "until his successor is appointed." This means that Olaf Scholz, although officially dismissed from his position following ceremonial events, remains in office until a new chancellor is confirmed. Simultaneously, by law, all federal government ministers stay in their posts and perform the functions of acting ministers until the formal process of appointing the new government is completed. The background of this situation is quite tense. As reported, Germany's lower parliament unexpectedly failed to elect Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU, as the new chancellor on the first attempt. The election did not produce the desired result, and the country will now have to go through a second round of voting, which is scheduled to take place within the next 14 days per legislation. This creates additional uncertainty in the country's political life and delays the formal transfer of power. Following the process, on May 5th, a solemn farewell ceremony for Olaf Scholz was held at the German Ministry of Defence. During the event, he spoke about his work and shared thoughts on the future political process. In his farewell speech, he described the situation with the appointment of the next chancellor as "an expression of democratic normality," emphasizing that democratic institutions work for the country's stability. It was expected that Merz would receive parliamentary support and be able to start performing his duties within the framework of a new coalition agreement. During his speech, Scholz wished the future chancellor "much success, good luck, and steady hands" in fulfilling his responsibilities and addressing the challenges facing Germany. It is worth noting that, according to the chancellor himself, after completing his term, he intends to focus on working in the parliament, serving as a Bundestag deputy rather than seeking new political positions. This situation once again highlights the complexity of modern politics in Germany: even during periods of uncertainty and failure to appoint a new leader, the role of acting chancellor persists in accordance with the law, ensuring state and institutional stability. The political potential of the country once again demonstrates resilience and the ability to adapt under difficult circumstances, and the process of choosing a new chancellor will continue for several more days, filling the political space with various scenarios and forecasts.