Government crisis
Who could temporarily take over the duties of the FDP ministers
Lindner gone, Wissing gone, Buschmann gone, Stark-Watzinger gone. The current traffic light cabinet table will be empty until a successor is decided. Who could step in for the FDP ministers?
One minister dismissed, three ministers resign – and not only in this respect, nothing in the federal government has been as it used to be since Wednesday evening. The involuntary (?) end of the FDP in the traffic light makes it necessary to reorganize the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) until a possible new election.
Substitution arrangement after traffic light earthquake
While there is already some speculation about possible successors, the federal government has – as usual – an order of representation decided upon after taking office, which takes effect if ministers are unable to attend. Other department heads then take over their tasks, as reported by the “Bild” newspaper, among others.
Accordingly, Vice Chancellor, Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) would take over the duties of the dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) will take over Transport Minister Volker Wissing’s position. Justice Minister Frank Buschmann would be replaced by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) and Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger would be replaced by Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens).
In practice, however, after the end of the FDP ministers, the state secretaries of the respective ministries in particular will probably have more work to do until the Chancellor possibly appoints successors to the ministers.
The next regular cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place next Wednesday – possibly with four new ministers.
Background: After months of quarrels in the traffic light government, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the dismissal of FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Wednesday evening. The remaining three members of the federal government then announced their resignations. Scholz also plans to ask the Bundestag a vote of confidence in January. The end result could be a new election for the Bundestag next spring (read here what the path to new elections could look like).
Sources: ,
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
