New federal government: New government is moving closer – CDU coalition agreement agrees

Eight days before the planned chancellor election in the Bundestag, the CDU approved the coalition agreement negotiated with CSU and SPD. A small party congress accepted him with a large majority – was not counted. The formation of the black and red coalition now only depends on the member vote of the SPD, which expires on this Tuesday evening. The probably new Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann vehemently promoted the coalition agreement in front of the approximately 150 delegates. CDU and CSU also presented the list of their cabinet members.

“In my view, the compromises we made in this coalition agreement are not only responsible. They are compromises that I can recommend with a clear conscience today,” said Merz. Linnemann admitted that the contract was of course not pure CDU. “But in this coalition agreement – and that is my firm conviction – the change of politics is inside, for which we all fought in the election campaign.” Now you have to implement it. “We have to do it now. We have to deliver.”

Merz sees new government to be committed to success

Merz sees the intended government of the Union and SPD committed to success. There is no euphoria, but the time is not now, he said. “We form a work coalition. We know that we are responsible for being successful,” emphasized Merz. “Success in Germany, success in Europe and also success in the world. Success for the economy and community in one’s own country. And success in the self -assertion of the democratic center of our country.”

Merz warned that if there was no clear majority of citizens of the country with the new federal government and its work, one could get into the situation “that we can no longer be able to act in this country and may no longer be able to perform at some point”. CDU, CSU and SPD are in the common duty to prevent this.

Linnemann: New government will surprise positively

Linnemann assumed a successful work by the desired government of the Union and the SPD. “It is my firm conviction that this federal government will surprise – in a positive sense,” he said. Everyone involved knew about their responsibility. In addition, party leader Merz as the future chancellor is the right man at the right time.

Hardly criticism of the coalition agreement

In the discussion about the coalition agreement, other leading CDU politicians such as Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein also advertised the approximately 140-page paper. There was hardly any criticism. The chairman of the Junge Union, Johannes Winkel, who had critically commented in advance, asked the question of generation justice if a steaming of pension increases were already declared unthinkable.

However, Merz had previously made it clear that he penetrated reforms of the great social security for pension, health and care. It is true that the coalition agreement was unclear and vague. However, it was important to come out of the spiral of ever higher contributions and budget funds and at the same time poorer achievements in the eyes of those affected.

Trusted names and a surprise on cabinet list

At a meeting of the CDU management bodies, Merz had previously submitted the list of the ministerial posts to be determined by his party. At the same time, the CSU presented its cabinet members in Munich. In addition to many known names, the CDU list contains a big surprise: the head of Ceconomy, the parent company of the electronics chains Media Markt and Saturn, should take over the newly created department for digitization and state modernization.

Many names for the occupation of the other departments have been circulating for days: The Foreign Ministry, which goes back to the CDU after almost 60 years, is to lead the outdoor and security expert Johann Wadephul from Schleswig-Holstein. The previous CSU state group chairman in the Bundestag, Alexander Dobrindt, becomes Interior Minister. The important Ministry of Economic Affairs is to take over the energy manager and former CDU member of the Bundestag Katherina Reiche.

In the new cabinet, the men will again be outnumbered at the Union. The CDU sends four men and three women, the CSU two men and one woman. Politicians from East Germany are even more clearly underrepresented – only rich comes from there. She was born in Luckenwalde in Brandenburg. From 1998 to 2015 she represented constituency 61 (Potsdam-Potsdam-Mittelmark II-Teltow-Fläming II) in the Bundestag.

Only with the appointment by the Federal President in office

The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz wants to be elected Chancellor in the Bundestag on Tuesday next week. He then receives his certificate of appointment from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and then pays off the oath of office in the Bundestag. In contrast to him, there is no choice for the ministers. You will be in office with the appointment by Steinmeier.

Lateral entrants from the economy

The most surprising personnel is the nomination of Wildberger to the first Federal Minister of Digitization and State Modernization. The 55-year-old has relevant practical experience. In recent years, the digital transformation in business and corporate world has been the core of its activities. As an electronics market operator, Ceconomy has expanded the online business under his leadership. From 2016 to summer 2021, he was responsible for digital change at the E.ON Energy Group.

Merz confidant as Chancellor’s head

As Chancellery Minister, Merz will bring a confidante to the government center, the previous first parliamentary managing director of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Thorsten Frei (CDU) from Baden-Württemberg. In the future, the 51-year-old will in future be able to clear down pitfalls for his boss, ensure a smooth government process and keep in touch with the federal states.

Member of the Bundestag will be new ministers

When filling further cabinet posts, the CDU and CSU largely rely on expertise from the Bundestag. The CDU MP Patrick Schnieder from Rhineland-Palatinate is to take over the traffic department and CDU MP Nina Warken from Baden-Württemberg. The CSU MP and party vice Dorothee Bär from Bad Kissingen becomes Minister for Research, Technology and Space, her party colleague Alois Rainer from Straubing receives the Ministry of Agriculture.

The CDU relies on expertise from a federal state for the occupation of the Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth: the profiled Schleswig-Holstein Minister of Education Karin Prien receives this post.

Spahn will probably be the new group leader

Former Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) is to become the new chairman of the Union faction and will follow Merz in this office. According to information from the German press agency of participants, Merz said in a meeting of the CDU federal board that he and CSU boss Markus Söder Spahn wanted to propose for the chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. The 44 -year -old Spahn has been in the Bundestag for more than 20 years. He was also under discussion as a possible minister.