Berlin, 11 January 2022: She is Germany’s first female Minister of Building. On Tuesday, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke to the Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building, Klara Geywitz.
Berlin, 12 January 2022: Among other matters, the Federal Cabinet approved the 2020 Migration Report on Wednesday. The coronavirus pandemic, the new Skilled Workers Immigration Act and Brexit led to a decrease in the number of immigrants of almost 24 percent.
Afterwards, Federal Chancellor Scholz answered questions put by members of the Bundestag at government question time for the first time.
He said the measures taken so far to combat the pandemic were an important contribution to stemming the current wave of infections. The measures were having the “desired effect”, he said, and the infection rate with the Omicron variant in Germany was showing a “very different pattern compared to other countries as things currently stand”.
Scholz again called on people to get vaccinated. According to the Federal Chancellor, the decision to get vaccinated is not one we take in isolation because it has consequences for others – “for our whole country, for our own friends, for our neighbours”.
In the evening, Reiner Hoffmann, President of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), welcomed Federal Chancellor Scholz to the organisation’s Executive Board session.
The Federal Chancellor discussed the binding effect of collective bargaining agreements as a key requirement for good work and fair wages.
Berlin, 13 January 2022: After his re-election, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte paid an inaugural visit to Federal Chancellor Scholz.
Germany and the Netherlands share common values and the two governments have similar goals, for example in the areas of climate protection, energy and foreign policy, Scholz stressed during the visit.
“Our aim is to continue and further enhance our sound collaboration,” said Scholz at the joint press briefing. For this reason, he said, the two leaders had agreed to continue to pursue bilateral government consultations soon and to meet for this purpose.