According to sources, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is taking her likely successor Olaf Scholz to the G20 summit to be held in Rome next weekend. Scholz is Minister of Finance in the current German cabinet.
Merkel and Scholz will go to the top together to demonstrate continuity despite the change of power in Germany. Government sources have told the AFP news agency that it is a “historic signal”. It would also be a sign of confidence in Scholz.
This weekend, Scholz and Merkel will meet with US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, among others. They also participate in a summit on Iran together.
Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) beat Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) in the election. Merkel, however, did not participate in the elections; she previously announced that she would step down as chancellor.
The SPD, the Greens and the liberal FDP are in advanced negotiations for a coalition. The parties hope to finalize their government by early December.