A Peek at the Faces of the Merz Cabinet - Your Guide to Germany's Top Brass
- Authors: Daniel Bakir and Lennard Worobic
New Federal Government Ministers' Appearances: A Showcase of All Members in the Merz Cabinet - Images showcase the physical appearances of every minister in the newly formed Federal Government.
With Chancellor Friedrich Merz announcing the Union's cabinet list on April 28, followed by the Social Democrats on May 5, we present a snapshot of the ministers who'll shape the new federal government. Some appointments were expected, while others came as a pleasant surprise. Read on to get acquainted with the power players of German politics.
The ministers shaping the Merz cabinet:
- Finance and Vice-Chancellor: Lars Klingbeil (SPD) (Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister)
- Defense: Boris Pistorius (SPD) (SPD co-leader)
- Labor and Social Affairs: Bärbel Bas (SPD)
- Construction and Housing: Verena Hubertz (SPD)
- Development Aid: Reem Alabali-Radovan (SPD)
- Environment: Carsten Schneider (SPD)
- Justice: Stefanie Hubig (SPD)
- Chancellery: Thorsten Frei (CDU) (alternate ego of Friedrich Merz)
- Interior: Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) (Merz whisperer)
- Economy and Energy: Katherina Reiche (CDU) (CDU's Minister of Economics)
- Foreign Office: Johann Wadephul (CDU) (Minister of Foreign Affairs)
- Research and Space: Dorothee Bär (CSU) (Söder's woman for the moon)
- Education and Family: Karin Prien (CDU) (First Jewish Federal Minister)
- Health: Nina Warken (CDU)
- Transport: Patrick Schnieder (CDU)
- Digitalization and State Modernization: Karsten Wildberger (independent)
- Agriculture: Alois Rainer (CSU)
- State Minister for Sport and Volunteering: Christiane Schenderlein (CDU)
- State Minister for Culture and Media: Wolfram Weimer (independent)
Portraits for Reference:
- Thorsten Frei adopts the mantle of Friedrich Merz's alter ego
- Katherina Reiche: Merz' Minister of Economics - a dash of Habeck
- A closer look at Germany's new Foreign Minister - Johann Wadephul
- Alexander Dobrindt: The Merz whispers-in-chief
- First Jewish Federal Minister - Karin Prien makes her way to Berlin
- Karsten Wildberger: The top manager tasked with digitalizing Germany
- This is Dorothee Bär, Söder's celestial warrior
- The first of her kind - Christiane Schenderlein, the Sports Minister
- The SPD ministers under the spotlight
Further images from this gallery
- The capable commanders of the Federal Government
- The Christian Democratic Union and its allies
- The steely Social Democrats
(Overall, the new Federal Government in Germany is a grand coalition between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister-party Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). While details about all ministers are not fully available, some key members have been identified. It's essential to refer to official sources or news outlets for a complete list of ministers and their portfolios).
- Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor, has named Lars Klingbeil (SPD) as Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister in the new Federal Government.
- Surprisingly, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) will serve as the Minister of Interior and be known as the Merz whisperer.
- Carsten Schneider (SPD), the SPD co-leader, has been appointed as the Environment Minister under the Merz cabinet.
- Karin Prien (CDU), a newcomer, will shape policy-and-legislation as the first Jewish Federal Minister, particularly focusing on Education and Family.
