Germany's Greens insisted “the next federal government must be a climate government” as it emerged as a kingmaker in the race to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor, following a general election that could yet spell good news for renewables and the Energiewende, or energy transition, in Europe's largest economy.
German voters this weekend handed a resounding success to Social Democratic (SPD) candidate for chancellor and finance minister Olaf Scholz and a bitter defeat to conservative (CDU/CSU) candidate Armin Laschet – but it will be up to the third and fourth-placed Greens and Liberals (FDP) to decide who will become the successor of Angela Merkel.
