07/12/2021 (Agence Europe) – Germany has taken another step towards having a federal government. The Grünen (Greens), the FDP (Liberals, ‘Freie Demokratische Partei’) and the SPD (Social Democrats, ‘Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands’) signed a coalition agreement on Tuesday 7 December, reported the national press. This should allow the election of Olaf Scholz as head of the Chancellery by the Bundestag (the national lower house) on Wednesday 8 December. He will then take over from Angela Merkel, who was Chancellor for 16 years at the head of the Federal Republic’s government. It will be the first federal government to be formed by an ‘Ampel-Koalition’ (‘tricolour’ coalition, referring to the colours - red, yellow, green - of the coalition parties). It will focus in particular on environmental issues. To consult the coalition agreement: https://bit.ly/3pzuFGd (PH)