Cabinet's Rear Seat or Rear Shelf of the Cabinet

Cabinet's Rear Seat or Rear Shelf of the Cabinet

## Key Positions in Personnel Policy for Parties in the German Federal Government

In the German federal government, key positions in personnel policy are strategically allocated during coalition negotiations, following federal elections. These negotiations determine the governing majority in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, and set the stage for the implementation of the government's agenda on labor, employment, and social policies.

### Determination Process

1. **Coalition Negotiations**: After federal elections, parties that aim to form a coalition engage in negotiations to decide not only policy priorities but also how ministerial positions will be distributed among the coalition partners.

2. **Ministerial Allocation**: Key positions relevant to personnel policy, such as the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, are allocated based on the coalition agreement. The party with the stronger presence in the coalition often secures more influential positions.

3. **Portfolio Allocation**: The allocation of portfolios (e.g., labour, education, family) is a critical aspect of these negotiations. Each party seeks to secure those portfolios that align with their policy priorities.

4. **Policy Agreements**: The coalition agreement outlines specific policy commitments, including those related to labor law, social welfare, and education. These commitments guide the personnel policies implemented by the government.

## Key Positions

- **Minister of Labour and Social Affairs**: This role is crucial for implementing labor reforms, setting minimum wages, and overseeing social security systems. - **Minister of Education and Research**: Responsible for education policy, including vocational training and research initiatives. - **Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth**: Focuses on family policies, youth support, and social welfare.

These positions are vital for shaping and implementing the government's policies on labor, education, and social affairs, which are often central to the coalition agreement.

## Role of Coalition Agreement

The coalition agreement serves as a blueprint for the government's policy agenda, including personnel policy. It outlines commitments on labor law reform, collective bargaining, and other workforce-related issues. These agreements are negotiated by party leaders and are binding for the duration of the coalition.

In the German federal government, the offices of the Bundestag President and the parliamentary group leader are considered on par with ministerial posts in terms of influence, prestige, and protocol. However, the allocation of offices and positions in government and parliament is a sensitive issue for parties, and state associations may not always be favored.

For instance, the relationship between the federal CDU party and its Berlin state association has been strained since the times of Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl. In the CDU, there is a surplus of ministerial politicians, all from North Rhine-Westphalia, including Friedrich Merz, Carsten Linnemann, Jens Spahn, Armin Laschet, Norbert Röttgen, and Ralph Brinkhaus.

Similarly, in the SPD, there is a surplus of male politicians in Lower Saxony, including co-chairman Lars Klingbeil, Matthias Miersch, Hubertus Heil, and Boris Pistorius. These imbalances in representation are a concern for parties, particularly before federal elections.

Political reality is a factor in personnel policy, as party leaders must consider the interests of their state associations and different wings, as well as the quota for women. The CSU, for example, has always had at least three politicians in Merkel's and Kohl's cabinets. On the other hand, the East German CDU is represented in the federal cabinet by only one party member, Katharina Reiche, who left politics over a decade ago.

In summary, key positions in personnel policy are determined through a negotiated process between coalition partners, with the allocation of ministerial posts reflecting the balance of power and policy priorities within the coalition. The future federal chancellor does not determine his part of the federal ministers alone but incorporates the assessments of many party friends, including from the state associations, into his considerations.

1. The distribution of key positions in personnel policy, such as the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Minister of Education and Research, and Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, is a result of coalition negotiations and agreements following federal elections in the German federal government.
2. The coalition agreement, serving as a blueprint for the government's policy agenda, includes commitments on policy-and-legislation related to labor, education, and social affairs, as well as personnel policy. These agreements are influenced by politics and general-news factors, such as the interests of state associations and gender quotas.

Read also: