Germany in the post-Merkel era: The new government and the key figures

The urgency of the moment in Germany accelerated political developments and two months after the election, the formation of a coalition government by Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals was announced.

For the first time in 16 years, Germany will have a center-left government and a new chancellor, Social Democrat Olaf Solz, who is set to replace Angela Merkel.

“We are united in our belief in progress and that politics can do good,” said Chancellor Olaf Solz.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs goes to the “Green” Analena Berbok, who becomes the first woman Foreign Minister of the country.

The 40-year-old co-chair of the Greens has already spoken out against Nord Stream 2, which will transport Russian gas directly to Germany. Its stance against Turkey is well known, as it has repeatedly expressed its anger at human rights abuses, and has clearly spoken out against Ankara’s equipment with German submarines and defense equipment.

The leader of the Free Democrats, Christian Lindner, is placed in the Ministry of Finance. A “hawk”, a proponent of fiscal discipline and stricter than Seibel.

“The first thing that needs to be achieved is for Germany to remain a factor of fiscal stability,” Lindner said.

A political science graduate without financial knowledge, his colleagues affectionately call him Babi, that is, a fawn, while in the media they note that his only career was the party one since he has not even run a municipality …

In addition to the chancellery, the Social Democrats receive six ministries (Interior, Health, Home and Housing, Labor and Social Affairs, Defense, External Development Assistance). The Greens receive the Anti-Chancellery and four ministries (Economy – Climate Policy, Foreign Affairs, Family Affairs, Environment and Rural Economy) while the Free Democrats receive a total of four ministries (TRANSPARENCY: Finance, Transport and Communication, and Transport).

“We will all invest together to make Germany one of the world’s top leaders,” Solz said.

Germany and Europe enter the post-Merkel era, and Berlin acquires the first tripartite coalition government in Germany in post-war history.