Change in the Chancellery: Scholz does not grant Merz a "government internship"

Change in the Chancellery Scholz does not grant Merz a "government internship" 26.02.2025, 15:24

Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz exchanged views for about an hour over hot drinks on Monday in the Chancellery. The knowledge transfer is expected to remain at this level. Merz is not scheduled to be included in the outgoing Chancellor's official appointments.

The federal government is expecting a smooth transition phase until a new government takes office. At the same time, it sees no reason to involve CDU leader and election winner Friedrich Merz in current government business. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit rejected speculation that Chancellor Olaf Scholz could take Merz to the special EU summit on the US change of course in Ukraine policy in Brussels on March 6. "There is no government internship, and there is no hand-holding either. Changes of government are very common in democracies."

After the inaugural session of the new Bundestag at the end of March, the federal government will only be in office in an acting capacity, but will be fully capable of acting, said Hebestreit. "There is no phase now in which decisions cannot be made, travel cannot be made, or anyone cannot be received. This is all clearly regulated." At the same time, "Everything that concerns the next legislative period will of course also be discussed with those who are likely to want to take on responsibility in the future."

Hebestreit rejected comparisons with a trip by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel and SPD politician Scholz to the G20 summit of the most important industrial and emerging countries in Rome at the end of October 2021, after the federal election lost by the Union. Both had taken part in the summit together, but in different roles: she as the still-serving Chancellor and Scholz as her Finance Minister and designated successor.

"That is what makes our country special"

At the special summit in Brussels next week, "27 heads of state and government from 27 democracies in which elections are held regularly and in which there are also regular changes of government" will come together, said Hebestreit. "If we were to always arrive with two or more heads of government, that would not necessarily speed up the discussions," added the government spokesman.

Hebestreit spoke of the imminent formation of a classic government that would take "one or two months, maybe a little longer." The constitution also made provisions for the event that it took longer. "That is what sets our country apart: we always manage to achieve good and cooperative changes of government." Scholz and Merz met for about an hour in the Chancellery on Monday. "There were hot drinks and we exchanged views," said the government spokesman, without giving any details.