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The
Social Democrat's first major address to parliament since
replacing conservative leader Angela Merkel last week focused
largely on domestic issues, emphasizing the need for
modernization, better integration of immigrants and more equal
opportunities.
Yet the 63-year old also underscored the importance of
strengthening the European Union and standing
shoulder-to-shoulder with transatlantic allies in the face of
security threats like the Russian military build-up in Ukraine.
"We have about 23 years ahead of us in which we must and will
get out of fossil fuels which means the biggest transformation
of our industry and economy in at least 100 years," said
Germany's new chancellor.
Scholz served as vice chancellor and finance minister in
coalition with Merkel over the past four years. But he has vowed
his unprecedented three-way coalition with the ecological Greens
and liberal Free Democrats would be a "restart".
His immediate priority however would be tackling the pandemic,
warning there would be "no red lines" for his government in
fighting Germany's fourth wave and imploring citizens to get
vaccinated.
On foreign policy, Scholz said the success of the European Union
was a top priority for Germany and his government would work to
strengthen the bloc. One aim was to see qualified majority
voting at the European Council expanded.
Scholz, who is set to participate in his first EU summit as
chancellor on Thursday, has big shoes to fill after Merkel
helped navigate the bloc through multiple crises during her 16
years in office.
The two leaders share a down-to-earth, conciliatory manner and
calm rather than charismatic attitude - qualities on display in
his sober speech on Wednesday in which he thanked Merkel for her
handover that was, he said, a global lesson in citizenry.
On Europe's most immediate crisis, Scholz reiterated warnings
that any violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity by Russia
would have a high price although Berlin still wanted a dialogue
with Moscow.
"We will speak with one voice here with our European partners
and our transatlantic allies," said the leader who has paid
visits to Paris, Brussels and Warsaw since taking office last
Wednesday.
(Reporting by Paul Carrel and Madeline Chambers; Writing by
Sarah Marsh; Editing by Maria Sheahan, Alexandra Hudson)
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