The CDU and CSU have announced the names of their new government. Johann Wadephul is the new Foreign Minister – the first Christian Democrat in the post in almost 60 years. The cabinet contains both experts and career politicians.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has named the ministers who will be part of the cabinet of new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Johann Wadephul, a close ally of Merz, will be the new Foreign Minister.
Katherina Reiche, former Director General of Energy, will become Minister of Economy.
The CDU's sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), has appointed Alexander Dobrindt as Interior Minister.
Other positions go to the Social Democrats (SPD), coalition partners.
Germany's incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Europe is threatened by Russian aggression abroad and by declining trust in democracy at home.
"Faith in democracy in our country has not been weakened this much (at any time) since the end of World War II," he said at a CDU party congress in Berlin, where delegates backed a coalition deal reached with the SPD.
Looking beyond Germany, Merz said that Europe as a whole was "threatened externally by an imperialist and authoritarian war in the East and by fearful, insecure and sometimes radicalized citizens at home."
Germany and Europe will support Kiev
Friedrich Merz declared that he would not tolerate a "dictated peace" imposed on Ukraine and insisted that Germany and Europe would continue to support Kiev.
After the brief meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the Vatican on Saturday, Merz said the talks could "perhaps be the beginning of a serious peace process, worth bearing this name."
At the same time, the incoming chancellor proclaimed a leading role for Germany in the European Union. Insecurity in the EU must be overcome, he said.
In his speech to delegates in Berlin, Merz further promised a change in policy in areas such as economic, migration, foreign and security policy. The CDU/CSU and SPD wanted to form a "functional coalition" that would govern stably and effectively. "In economic policy, immigration policy, foreign policy and security policy, we will be able to fulfill many of the promises we have made," he said.
At the small CDU congress in Berlin, delegates voted in favor of the 144-page agreement titled "Responsibility for Germany." The chairman of the meeting, Saxony's state premier Michael Kretschmer, spoke of an "overwhelming majority" among the 150 delegates who supported the agreement.
When will the SPD announce its ministers?
Not all cabinet ministers in the new German government belong to Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU-CSU bloc; some will be from the ranks of the junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD).
The most prominent of these is expected to be Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who is likely to continue in his current role. But the Social Democrats will officially announce the rest of the government next Monday, after the party's 358,000 members have ratified the coalition agreement.
SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch said in Berlin on Monday that the party was closely analyzing the 144-page agreement, titled "Responsibility for Germany," but said he had not noticed much "euphoria."
He acknowledged that "in one or two places" some "distrust of the future coalition partner" had been expressed.
How do you assess Merz's choices for the new German government?
DW's political editor, Michaela Kuefner, thinks that in the context of German politics, the placement of expertise over party political logic could be considered almost revolutionary.
Friedrich Merz was promised a cabinet of experts. The result is a mix of experts and trusted allies.
The new Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, is a conservative defense and foreign policy expert who was close to Merz when he visited Ukraine and attended meetings that Merz himself was unable to attend at the Munich Security Conference.
Thorsten Frei's selection as chief of staff was considered a certainty, as he had worked closely with Merz in the party's parliamentary group for years.
But Merzi has also shown a willingness to take political risks when it comes to positions related to the economy.
His new Trade Minister is Katherina Reiche, a rising business star in her previous position as CEO of the energy company Westenergie.
Another former CEO will be responsible for leading the new Ministry of Digitalization and Modernization: 55-year-old senior manager Karsten Wildberger will leave e-commerce giants Saturn and Media Markt to take on the new role.
Merz never promised gender equality, but with four men and three women, he has also avoided escalating criticism that he surrounds himself only with men as close advisors.
The most important issue now is how quickly Merzi can get his cabinet up and running./ DW (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
