The Germans put together a government; Red-black coalition

After the parties of the Christian Democratic Union, CSU and CDU, gave their consent, the members of the SPD also approved the agreement on the formation of a red-black coalition government in Germany.

According to party data, 84.6 percent of members voted in favor, while 15.4 percent were against. The turnout in the vote, which ended at midnight, was 56 percent. This clearly exceeded the necessary minimum turnout of 20 percent.

Now nothing stands in the way of signing the coalition agreement. The presidency of the CSU and the small party congress of the CDU have already given their consent.

As of April 15, the SPD's 358,000 members could vote online on the voluminous 144-page document titled "Responsibility for Germany."

Within the SPD, most of the criticism was directed at the planned tightening of migration and social policy provided for in the coalition agreement. The youth leaders of the SPD (Juzos) therefore rejected the agreement and demanded new negotiations.

However, the only alternatives to this coalition would be: an alliance of Christian Democrats and AfD, a minority government or new elections.

Lars Klingbeil - Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance

SPD president Lars Klingbeil should become vice chancellor in the next federal government. As ARD learns, this was decided at a session of the party's presidency. It is also considered likely that Klingbeil will also take over the position of Minister of Finance.

This 47-year-old has been the president of the SPD since the end of 2021, and was previously the general secretary of the party. He comes from Soltau in Lower Saxony, and since February of this year he has been leading the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag.

It is considered certain that Boris Pistorius will remain the Minister of Defense. Boris Pistorius built a clear political profile during the war against Ukraine, and that is why he is almost certainly being counted on for this position.

This is how the formation of the new German government continues

On Monday at noon, the CDU, CSU and SPD coalition agreement should be officially signed. The SPD plans to present its team of ministers on the same day.

The former Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil could be replaced by the former President of the Bundestag Bärbel Bas. Among the potential candidates for the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the co-president of the SPD, Saskia Esken, as well as the Minister of Social Affairs of Saxony, Petra Köpping, are mentioned.

Svenja Schulze could retain her position as Minister for Development Cooperation. If Saskia Esken would like to move to the cabinet, this ministry could be assigned to her.

When it comes to the Ministry of Environment and Climate, SPD General Secretary Matthias Mirsch is mentioned. It is possible, however, that the current minister for development, Svenja Schulze, could move to this department. Other potential candidates are the head of the parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Katja Mast, and the deputy president of the SPD caucus, Verena Hubertz.

Carsten Schneider, the current commissioner for East Germany, is mentioned as a possible successor to Klara Geywitz, the former federal minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building.

Among the candidates for a leadership position in the Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, there is the MP from Brandenburg and judge Sonja Eichwede.

May 6: Election of the chancellor and swearing-in

Tanjug/Fabrizio Bensch/Pool Photo via AP, File

On Tuesday, CDU leader Friedrich Merz should be elected chancellor. The Federal Chancellor is nominated by the Federal President and elected by secret ballot in the Bundestag. He needs a majority vote of the members of the Bundestag - so at least 316 votes. After the election, Merz will receive a decree of appointment from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Castle. Upon returning to the Bundestag, the new chancellor is sworn in.

It is expected that on the same day the ministers will be sworn in in the Bundestag. They are not elected by the Bundestag, but receive decrees of appointment from the federal president, and are then sworn in by parliament. With that, the new federal government officially takes office.