Germany's Merz confirmed as chancellor in second vote following first round humiliation
CDU/CSU leader had expected an easy victory in ballot to succeed the outgoing Olaf Scholz
www.theguardian.comHere are the latest developments on Friedrich Merz's cabinet (as of Apr–May 2025):
- Merz unveiled his first wave of cabinet picks in late April 2025, signaling a business-friendly, economically focused team. Key appointments included Johann Wadephul as foreign minister and Alexander Dobrindt as interior minister, reinforcing a conservative leadership style.[3]
- The coalition deal between Merz’s CDU/CSU and the SPD allocated major portfolios to the conservatives (economy, interior) with the SPD taking defence and finance, aiming to accelerate Germany’s economic revival and security coordination.[3]
- Merz aimed to swear in the new government around May 6, 2025, after the coalition agreement was approved by SPD members, marking a formal transition to the new administration.[1]
If you’d like, I can pull more detailed profiles of each appointed minister, or summarize the coalition policy priorities and how they compare to prior governments. I can also provide a brief timeline of the cabinet formation process and current status as of today.
Citations:
- Merz unveils cabinet picks and key appointments[3]
- Coalition deal allocations and policy aims[3]
- Expected swearing-in timeline and process updates[1]