German President Steinmeier swears in new ministers
Following the collapse of the governing coalition, new heads have been assigned to three ministries.
Berlin (dpa) - Following the collapse of Germany’s governing coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has formally dismissed three of the four FDP ministers in the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). At the same time, Scholz’s economic policy adviser, Jörg Kukies, was appointed the new finance minister. Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) will additionally take charge of the Education Ministry. Transport Minister Volker Wissing is the only former FDP member to remain in government. He has now left the FDP. Steinmeier has appointed him as new justice minister, in addition to his current ministerial post.
Until the Bundestag elects a new chancellor by majority vote, this government will remain in office. Since it does not appear likely that a majority would vote for any other chancellor in the parliament’s current composition, the government will only be disbanded once a new Bundestag has been elected. Meanwhile, a discussion is underway in Germany about when new elections might take place. If the government has its way, Chancellor Scholz will call for a vote of confidence in the Bundestag in January, after which the Bundestag would presumably be re-elected in early March. The opposition demanded that Scholz call a confidence vote immediately so that elections can be held sooner. The chancellor announced that the government would make a statement in the Bundestag next Wednesday.