Olaf Scholz is voted in as the new chancellor of Germany; replaces Angela Merkel after 16 years

(CNN) – Olaf Scholz was voted in as Germany’s new chancellor on Wednesday, ending Angela Merkel’s four terms at the helm of Europe’s largest economy.

Scholz, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), won the secret ballot in Parliament as expected, a culmination of months of negotiations following his party’s narrow victory in the federal elections in September.

Following ceremonial protocols, Scholz went to see German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who appointed him as the new chancellor, a position he will officially assume once he is sworn in in Parliament on Wednesday.

This is Olaf Scholz

Scholz, 63, served as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs in Merkel’s first coalition government in the late 2000s. In 2011, he was elected Mayor of Hamburg, a position he held, with high levels of support, until 2018.

Since then, he has served as Deputy Chancellor and Finance Minister in Merkel’s grand coalition government, a powerful position in German national politics.

Her political style is no different from that of her now ex-boss: the two are alike in many ways, despite coming from rival parties.

Scholz, who has formed a tripartite coalition with the Greens and the pro-business Liberal Democratic Party, has positioned himself as a pragmatic and safe-handed figure. They see him as moderate and centrist, which has made him atypical within his party.

“Scholz seems to owe in part his success [en las elecciones] to pose as the worthy heir [de Merkel] during the campaign, quiet and unassuming, and with folded hands in a Merkel-style diamond in an image that went viral, “wrote Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, in an analysis note Wednesday.” Tal Imitation is probably the best compliment you could have given her. Despite some ups and downs during her long reign, Merkel leaves office as the most popular politician in the country, with a 69% approval rating. “

Farewell to Merkel

Merkel, who watched parliamentary proceedings from the visitors’ gallery alongside former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, received applause from lawmakers when Parliamentary Speaker Baerbel Bas mentioned her name.

Having led Germany for 16 years and 16 days, Merkel came very close to becoming the longest-serving postwar chancellor, behind Helmut Kohl, by just 10 days.

Scholz has big shoes to fill. He also assumes power at a time of growing diplomatic uncertainty in the European Union, including provocations from Russia and Belarus, and threats to the rule of law from Poland and Hungary. Unlike Merkel, she is not well known abroad.

CNN’s Stephanie Halasz and Sheena McKenzie contributed to this report.