Government Formation: A Chancellor and 17 Key Positions Yet to Fill

The ongoing government formation process in Germany has generated considerable interest as speculations mount regarding who will fill the 17 significant ministerial positions in the new administration led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the CDU.

With the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU, and SPD already concluded, the focus now shifts to the crucial appointments within the cabinet. Each party has already delineated which ministries they will oversee, and the selection of individuals for these roles is now in the hands of party leaders.

CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann likened the selection process to the final match of a football World Cup, where the coach determines the starting eleven. This underlines the weight of the decisions at hand, as party leaders engage in confidential discussions about potential candidates.

Among the anticipated candidates for the role of Chief of the Chancellery is Thorsten Frei from the CDU, who is regarded as a close ally of Chancellor Merz. Another potential candidate is Hendrik Hoppenstedt, a former state minister with experience in government operations.

The finance minister position is considered one of the most critical in the new government, and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil is expected to pursue the role of Vice Chancellor. The current Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, is widely expected to retain his position due to his strong popularity among the public.

For the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, Katherina Reiche, a former CDU member and current figure in the energy sector, is being discussed as a candidate. She could potentially make history as the first female minister from East Germany in this role. Other names in consideration include CDU energy expert Andreas Jung.

The foreign affairs portfolio could see Johann Wadephul, a CDU specialist from Schleswig-Holstein, stepping into the role of Foreign Minister, a position that has not been held by a CDU member for nearly six decades. Speculation also surrounds former North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Armin Laschet.

In the area of labor and social affairs, Hubertus Heil is considered at risk of losing his position, particularly with both Klingbeil and Pistorius also hailing from Niedersachsen. Bärbel Bas, a former Bundestag president, is mentioned as a possible successor.

For the Ministry of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, the head of the CSU parliamentary group, emerges as a frontrunner. His return to the cabinet would signify a strengthening of the CSU's influence in Berlin.

In the health sector, there are no clear favorites as the position remains in flux. Candidates include Karl-Josef Laumann, a seasoned minister from North Rhine-Westphalia, and Tino Sorge from Saxony-Anhalt.

The Ministry of Transport could see NRW's construction minister, Ina Scharrenbach, as a potential nominee, while the current Minister of Development, Svenja Schulze, is also likely to keep her role.

For environmental and climate protection, SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch is well qualified, but Schulze could also return to a position she previously held. Other contenders include Katja Mast, a parliamentary manager.

In the housing sector, the future of Klara Geywitz is uncertain, with Carsten Schneider, the former state minister for East Germany, being a potential replacement.

For research and space, Dorothee Bär, a former digital state minister, is viewed as a leading candidate. Similarly, Michaela Kaniber, Bavaria's agricultural minister, has emerged as a contender for the agriculture and food ministry.

In the justice and consumer protection sector, the SPD is expected to push for a generational change, potentially bringing in Sonja Eichwede, a federal representative and judge, to fill the role.

Lastly, the newly created Ministry of Digitalization may see Kristina Sinemus, the digital minister from Hesse, taking charge, alongside discussions about the involvement of Verena Pausder, head of the startup association.