| |
|
|
|
|
|
||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Merkel Names CDU/CSU Cabinet Members as Coalition Talks Open
Leaders of the Christian Democrat/Christian Social unions (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have declared the opening round of talks on forming a power-sharing government a success. “There is good will on both sides to establish a grand coalition for four years and not just to strive for the smallest common denominator,” CDU head and prospective chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin on October 17. One can expect difficult negotiations, but the opening has been successful, she said after the three-hour meeting at SPD headquarters. SPD head Franz Müntefering spoke of great challenges, but also saw reason for confidence in a positive outcome of the negotiations, scheduled to last until November 12. The next round will take place this coming Monday at CDU headquarters. In the meantime, 17 working groups have been formed to handle areas of responsibility corresponding to the number of federal ministries, as well as eastern reconstruction, cultural policy, and federalism. Merkel Names Cabinet Picks
As the two sides begin their negotiations, the makeup of the cabinet in the power-sharing government seems set. Merkel announced her choices for cabinet positions hours before talks began on October 17, following the SPD announcement of its picks on October 13. Under the “grand coalition,” the CDU/CSU will occupy 6 ministries plus the head of the chancellery which, with Merkel as chancellor, makes for eight seats at the cabinet table. The SPD will lead eight ministries and take the position of vice chancellor. Merkel has chosen former CDU leader Wolfgang Schäuble to be interior minister, a position he held in the administration of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl. CDU group leader in the Hessen state parliament and former state minister of federal and European affairs, Franz Josef Jung has been tapped to head the Defense Ministry. The leader of the Bavarian Christian Social Union and Bavarian Minister President Edmund Stoiber would lead the Economics and Technology Ministry. Stoiber’s deputy and health minister under Kohl, Horst Seehofer, would lead the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Ministry. Annette Schavan (CDU), culture minister in Baden-Wüttemberg, would lead the Education and Research Ministry. Ursula von der Leyen (CDU), an M.D. and minister for Social Matters, Family and Healthcare in Lower Saxony, would head the same ministry at the federal level. As her chief of staff at the rank of minister, Merkel has chosen Saxony Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière. SPD Cabinet Choices Frank-Walter Steinmeier, state secretary and chief of staff to Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, would serve as foreign minister. The former minister president of North Rhine-Westphalia, Peer Steinbrück, is to be finance minister. Leipzig Mayor Wolfgang Tiefensee has been tapped to head the Transportation Ministry with the additional responsibility for the reconstruction of eastern Germany. Sigmar Gabriel, former minister president of Lower Saxony, is to take over the Environment Ministry. Remaining in their posts will be Health and Social Security Minister Ulla Schmidt, Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries, and Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul. October 17, 2005 Links
|
|
 Newsletters
 Printer-Friendly
Page
Email This Article |
||
|
|||||
|
|||||
