Now playing Next Germany The most striking pictures of Merkel's 16 years in power As the world remembers her 16 years in office, these are some of the most striking pictures of Merkel's time in power. 08/12/2021
Now playing Next Germany 'New era': Scholz becomes Germany's new chancellor as Merkel bows out Scholz, 63, has been Germany’s vice-chancellor and finance minister since 2018 and is a former mayor of Hamburg. 08/12/2021
Now playing Next Europe Decoded What will Germany's new government mean for the EU? Socialist Chancellor Olaf Scholz takes the reins in Berlin, meaning the bloc’s approach to some of its core issues could be about to change. 07/12/2021
Now playing Next Germany Incoming German Chancellor Scholz unveils new cabinet members The most closely watched appointment was that of health minister, as Germany struggles to bring down its highest coronavirus infection rates of the pandemic so far. 06/12/2021
Now playing Next Germany Germany's Social Democrats overwhelmingly back government deal The plan is for Scholz to be elected as chancellor on Wednesday and to lead a coalition with the Greens and Free Democrats. But before that can happen, members of the three parties need to approve the coalition deal. 04/12/2021
Now playing Next Germany Germany's would-be coalition planning to form government in December The three parties started coalition negotiations on Thursday and aim to finish talks in late November. 21/10/2021
Now playing Next Germany Germany's traffic light coalition moves closer to forming a government If the talks are successful, Olaf Scholz will likely replace German Chancellor Angela Merkel. 15/10/2021
Now playing Next Germany 'Political speed dating' as coalition talks intensify in Germany Social Democrat leader Olaf Scholz has said he wants to form a new government before Christmas. 04/10/2021
Now playing Next Germany Euroviews. The Greens and Liberals could wield great power in Germany | View "Voters handed the real power to two smaller parties, the Greens (Die Grünen) and the liberal FDP, who are now guaranteed to be part of almost any possible coalition." 30/09/2021
Now playing Next Germany German election: Parties under pressure to kick start coalition talks The narrow winners of Sunday's election, the centre-left Social Democrats of Olaf Scholz, underlined their hopes of a quick start to coalition talks 28/09/2021
Now playing Next Germany Social Democrats narrow beat Merkel's CDU bloc, initial results show Both the SPD and the Union bloc are hoping to get into a coalition with the Greens and Free Democrats. 27/09/2021
Now playing Next Germany German election: CDU and SPD neck and neck as polls close The election is too close to call with both top parties — Merkel's centre-right Union bloc and centre-left Social Democrats — hoping to strike a power-sharing deal with the Greens and Free Democrats. 26/09/2021
Now playing Next Germany German election: Who's who in the race to replace Angela Merkel? How much do you know about those in the race to succeed Angela Merkel? 25/09/2021
Now playing Next Germany Olaf Scholz makes a comeback by making fewer gaffes than his rivals Scholz could be poised to lead the SDP to its first election victory since 2002. 22/09/2021
Now playing Next Germany Germany election: SPD's Olaf Scholz wins latest television debate But his joy may be short-lived. Today Scholz faces a high-risk parliamentary hearing on an obstruction of justice case involving the finance ministry that he heads. 20/09/2021
Now playing Next Germany German election: Laschet goes on the attack against frontrunner Scholz Merkel's CDU-CSU bloc has been languishing in the polls, currently projected to secure around 21% of the vote— a historically low level. 13/09/2021
Now playing Next Germany Berlin moves to greatly reduce ‘solidarity tax’ for eastern Germany The solidarity surcharge was introduced in 1991, to help reconstruction of the east following the reunification of Germany in the wake of the fall of the Berlin wall. 13/08/2019