Third Merkel cabinet
Third Merkel cabinet | |
---|---|
Cabinet of Germany | |
2013–2018 | |
Date formed | 17 December 2013 |
Date dissolved | 14 March 2018 |
People and organisations | |
Head of state | Joachim Gauck Frank-Walter Steinmeier |
Head of government | Angela Merkel |
Member party | Christian Democratic Union Social Democratic Party of Germany Christian Social Union of Bavaria |
Status in legislature | Grand coalition |
Opposition party | The Left The Greens |
History | |
Election(s) | German federal election, 2013 |
Legislature term(s) | 18th Bundestag |
Predecessor | Merkel II |
Successor | Merkel IV |
The third cabinet of Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel was sworn in on 17 December 2013.[1] Led by Merkel, the government was supported by a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), and the Social Democrats (SPD).[2][3]
The CDU received five ministries in addition to the positions of Chancellor and Chancellery Chief of Staff/Minister for Special Affairs. The SPD controlled six ministries and the CSU three. Although the CSU received a disproportionate share of ministries relative to its weight in the Bundestag, the six most powerful ministries were divided equally between the CDU and the SPD: the CDU controls the ministries for finance, internal affairs, and defense, while the SPD controls the ministries for foreign affairs, economics and energy, and justice and consumer protection.[4]
The term of office of the third Merkel cabinet officially ended with the constitution of the 19th Bundestag on Tuesday, 24 October 2017. Merkel and her cabinet ministers received their discharge papers from the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the same day. In accordance with Article 69 of the German constitution and at the request of the President of Germany, the cabinet remained in office as the caretaker government until a new government is formed.[5]
Composition
The current federal cabinet is composed of the following ministers and their parliamentary state secretaries (deputy ministers):
Caretaker government following the 2017 election
After the German federal election held on Sunday, 24 September 2017, SPD leader Martin Schulz declared that the SPD had decided to be a part of the opposition during the next legislation period.[8] However, after coalition talks between the Union (CDU/CSU), FDP and the Greens failed, SPD politicians reconsidered, leading to coalition negotiations between the CDU/CSU and the SPD. On 8 February 2018, the negotiations resulted in a provisional agreement to form a grand coalition, which still needs to be approved by party members as of 8 February 2018[update].[9]
References
- ^ "Bundeskanzlerin und Bundeskabinett vereidigt" [Federal Chancellor and cabinet sworn in] (in German). Deutscher Bundestag. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ based on Artikel 60 III of the Basic Law: Full text
- ^ "Bundeskanzlerin und Bundeskabinett vereidigt" [Federal Chancellor and cabinet sworn in] (in German). Deutscher Bundestag. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ Stephan Wallace (April 29, 2014), Commentary: Merkel’s Third Government – Return of the Grand Coalition American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) Washington, D.C.
- ^ "Government continues as acting government". 24 October 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ German Chancellery. "Liste der Bundesministerinnen und Bundesminister" [List of Federal Ministers]. Protokoll Inland der Bundesregierung Artikel 02.11. 2017 (in German). German Federal Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ http://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardartikel/Ministerium/2017-10-20-Altmaier-Ministerwechsel.html
- ^ Stefan Kuzmany / spiegel.de: A New Germany, Spiegel.de.
- ^ "erkel Makes Painful Concessions to Form New Government". Spiegel Online. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- "Kabinettsliste: Das sind Merkels wichtigste Minister" [Cabinet list: These are Merkels most important ministers]. Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- "Live-Blog zur Großen Koalition: Parteivorstand billigt die Kandidatenliste der SPD" [Live blog on the grand coalition: Party executive approves the SPD list of candidates]. Zeit (in German). Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- "Die "Welt" erfährt einige überraschende Personalien" [Die Welt learns some surprising personal details]. Welt (in German). Retrieved 15 December 2013.
External links
- Cabinet of Germany (English)
- Federal Ministries of Germany (English)