First Cabinet Meeting: Key Players in Merz's Government

The newly appointed Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) convened his cabinet for the first time, focusing on the reallocation of responsibilities among ministers. This meeting, held late in the evening, marked the establishment of a newly formed ministry dedicated to Digital Affairs and State Modernization, which consolidates functions from six existing departments.

In the organizational directive presented during the inaugural cabinet session, Merz outlined the redistribution of tasks within the government. The newly created Ministry of Digital Affairs, led by Karsten Wildberger (CDU), will oversee a broader range of responsibilities than initially anticipated, aimed at accelerating Germany's digital transformation.

The Digital Ministry will incorporate responsibilities from various departments, including strategic foresight and fundamental questions regarding digital policy, which will be transferred from the Chancellery. Additionally, the Ministry of the Interior will cede control of digital governance, societal digitalization, and IT procurement, which includes managing federal IT infrastructure and cybersecurity.

Wildberger's ministry will also assume roles related to digital and data policy from the former Ministry of Transport and Digital Affairs, and will gain responsibilities for regulatory reforms and bureaucracy reduction from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Moreover, the Ministry of Finance will relinquish some oversight of the IT Center for the Federal Administration and the management of the sovereign cloud used by public administrations. The Justice Ministry will also transfer its responsibilities concerning bureaucracy reduction and the implementation of the EU directive on artificial intelligence.

The significance of the Digital Ministry is underscored by its placement in the cabinet hierarchy, ranking higher than the Ministries of Transport, Environment, or Health. Following Chancellor Merz, the cabinet's internal order places Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) in the role of Vice Chancellor, though this designation is not official. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) follows him, with the Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) next in line.

Furthermore, several ministries will see significant changes in their responsibilities. The Ministry for Research, Technology, and Space, now led by Dorothee Bär (CSU), is set to become the central innovation hub, absorbing various technology-related duties from the Economic Ministry.

The Ministry of the Environment, now called the Federal Ministry for Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), will centralize climate protection responsibilities that had previously been divided across several ministries.

In a noteworthy shift, the education sector will be integrated into the Family Ministry, creating a new Ministry for Education, Family, Seniors, Women, and Youth under the leadership of Karin Prien (CDU). The Federal Ministry for Labor and Social Affairs has also absorbed new responsibilities related to migration and integration.

The Ministry of Agriculture, led by Alois Rainer (CSU), will now also handle issues related to equal living conditions and regional culture, reflecting a broader mandate than before.

Chancellor Merz has indicated that the government will prioritize initiatives aimed at regulating migration, revitalizing the economy, and addressing security issues. He expressed his commitment to establishing a working program shortly after assuming office.

Overall, the first cabinet meeting under Merz's leadership has set the stage for a significant reorganization within the German government, aiming to enhance efficiency and responsiveness to contemporary challenges.