Functioning democracy completes peaceful transition of power. These days, that is no longer always a given. Germany's story is one of continuity but also change, even if the new chancellor is a familiar face who has been dubbed the Scholzomat for his monotone ability to stay on-message. Olaf Scholz may sound boring, but the platform of the country's first three-party coalition since the 1950s reads like a manifesto for wholesale reform.
The new government of eight women and eight men is pledging to modernise the economy, manage the next wave of needed immigrants, go green fast and to do it all on a budget. How much of a transformation? Can Europe expect change or continuity as Social Democrat Scholz takes over from Angela Merkel after serving as her finance minister in the previous coalition government?
The new chancellor's first foreign trip will be to Paris, where there's a fair amount of Germany envy these days. While identity politics and personality contests hog the limelight in the early days of the French presidential campaign, we ask what we can learn from the Germans.
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Juilette Laurain and Imen Mellaz.
