Cabinet Merkel II
Encyclopedia
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Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
. Led by the Christian Democrat Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
(the first female chancellor in German history), it is supported by a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
(CDU), Christian Social Union of Bavaria
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
(CSU) and the Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
(FDP). It follows the Merkel Cabinet I.
Composition
The current federal cabinet consists of the following Ministers:| Office | Image | Incumbent | Party | In office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellor | |
Angela Merkel Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
November 22, 2005 – present |
| Vice-Chancellor Vice-Chancellor of Germany The Vice-Chancellor of Germany is, according to protocol, the second highest position in the Cabinet of GermanyIn case of the Chancellor's absence, the vice-chancellor acts in his or her place, for instance by heading cabinet meetings... |
Guido Westerwelle Guido Westerwelle Guido Westerwelle [] is a German liberal politician, who, since 28 October 2009, has been serving as the Foreign Minister in the second cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel, and who was Vice Chancellor of Germany from 2009 to 2011. He is the first openly gay person to hold either of those positions... |
FDP Free Democratic Party (Germany) The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government... |
October 28, 2009 – May 18, 2011 | |
| Philipp Rösler Philipp Rösler Philipp Rösler is a German politician, who, since 2011, has been the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology and the Vice Chancellor of Germany... |
May 18, 2011 - present | |||
| Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Office (Germany) The Foreign Office is the foreign ministry of Germany, a federal agency responsible for both the country's foreign politics and its relationship with the European Union. From 1871 to 1919, it was led by a Foreign Secretary, and since 1919, it has been led by the Foreign Minister of Germany... |
Guido Westerwelle Guido Westerwelle Guido Westerwelle [] is a German liberal politician, who, since 28 October 2009, has been serving as the Foreign Minister in the second cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel, and who was Vice Chancellor of Germany from 2009 to 2011. He is the first openly gay person to hold either of those positions... |
FDP Free Democratic Party (Germany) The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government... |
October 28, 2009 – present | |
| Federal Minister of the Interior Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany) The Federal Ministry of the Interior is a ministry of the German federal government. Its main office is in Berlin, with a secondary seat in Bonn. The current minister of the interior is Dr... |
 |
Thomas de Maizière Thomas de Maizière Karl Ernst Thomas de Maizière is a German politician , currently serving as the Minister of Defence in the Second Cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel.... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
October 28, 2009 – March 3, 2011 |
| Hans-Peter Friedrich Hans-Peter Friedrich Hans-Peter Friedrich is a German politician, representative of the Christian Social Union . He has been a member of the Bundestag of Germany since 1998. In the ongoing coalition negotiations with the Free Democratic Party, Friedrich was responsible for the portfolio of housing and development... |
CSU | March 3, 2011 - present | ||
| Federal Minister of Justice Federal Ministry of Justice (Germany) The Federal Ministry of Justice is a federal ministry in Germany.Under the federal system of Germany, individual states are most responsible for the administration of justice and the application of penalties. The Federal Ministry of Justice devotes itself to creating and changing law in the... |
Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger is a German politician of the pro-business Free Democratic Party. Within the FDP, she is a leading figure of the small social-liberal wing... |
FDP Free Democratic Party (Germany) The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government... |
October 28, 2009 – present | |
| Federal Minister of Finance | Wolfgang Schäuble Wolfgang Schäuble Wolfgang Schäuble is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union , currently serving as the Federal Minister of Finance in the Second Cabinet Merkel.... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
October 28, 2009 – present | |
| Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Germany) The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is a ministry of the German Federal Government since 1998... |
Rainer Brüderle Rainer Brüderle Rainer Brüderle is a German politician and member of the FDP. He served as Minister of Economics and Transport of Rhineland-Palatinate from 1987–1998. On 28 October 2009, he was appointed Federal Minister for Economics and Technology in the Cabinet Merkel II. On 12 May 2011, Brüderle left Federal... |
FDP Free Democratic Party (Germany) The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government... |
October 28, 2009 – May 12, 2011 | |
| Philipp Rösler Philipp Rösler Philipp Rösler is a German politician, who, since 2011, has been the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology and the Vice Chancellor of Germany... |
May 12, 2011 - present | |||
| Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Germany) The Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs is a top-level federal agency of the Federal Republic of Germany headed by the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs as a member of the Cabinet of Germany... |
Franz Josef Jung Franz Josef Jung Franz Josef Jung is a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union . He became Federal Minister of Defence in the Grand coalition cabinet of Angela Merkel on 22 November 2005... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
October 28, 2009 – November 27, 2009 | |
| Ursula von der Leyen Ursula von der Leyen Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a German politician of the conservative Christian Democratic Union.Since 30 November 2009, she has served as the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in the Second Cabinet Merkel. In the First Cabinet Merkel , she served as Federal Minister of Family... |
November 30, 2009 – present | |||
| Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection |  |
Ilse Aigner Ilse Aigner Ilse Aigner is a German politician and member of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria .Aigner was born in Feldkirchen-Westerham, Rosenheim, Bavaria and entered Angela Merkel's grand coalition cabinet as Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection on 31 October 2008... |
CSU | October 31, 2008 – present |
| Federal Minister of Defence Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany) The Federal Ministry of Defence is a top-level federal agency, headed by the Federal Minister of Defence as a member of the Cabinet of Germany... |
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg is a German politician of the Christian Social Union .... |
CSU | October 28, 2009 – March 3, 2011 | |
|
Thomas de Maizière Thomas de Maizière Karl Ernst Thomas de Maizière is a German politician , currently serving as the Minister of Defence in the Second Cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel.... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
March 3, 2011 - present | |
| Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth | Ursula von der Leyen Ursula von der Leyen Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a German politician of the conservative Christian Democratic Union.Since 30 November 2009, she has served as the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in the Second Cabinet Merkel. In the First Cabinet Merkel , she served as Federal Minister of Family... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
November 22, 2005 – November 30, 2009 | |
| Kristina Schröder | November 30, 2009 – present | |||
| Federal Minister of Health Federal Ministry of Health (Germany) The Federal Ministry of Health, is a ministry of the German federal government... |
Philipp Rösler Philipp Rösler Philipp Rösler is a German politician, who, since 2011, has been the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology and the Vice Chancellor of Germany... |
FDP Free Democratic Party (Germany) The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government... |
October 28, 2009 – May 12, 2011 | |
 |
Daniel Bahr Daniel Bahr Daniel Bahr is a German politician and member of the FDP.He is the FDP's expert on health politics and was chairman of the party's youth organization, the Young Liberals, from 1999 to 2004.... |
May 12, 2011 - present | ||
| Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (Germany) The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development is a Ministry of Germany.It was created in 1998 by merger of the former Federal Ministry of Transport and the Federal Ministry of Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development, both established in 1949... |
Peter Ramsauer Peter Ramsauer Peter Ramsauer is a German politician. He is qualified as a professional miller in accordance with the traditional occupation of his ancestry while holding the degree of PhD in Management, is married and has four daughters... |
CSU | October 28, 2009 – present | |
| Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety | Norbert Röttgen | CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
October 28, 2009 – present | |
| Federal Minister of Education and Research | Annette Schavan Annette Schavan ' is a German politician . She has been the Federal Minister of Education and Research since November 22, 2005.From 1995-2005, she served as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of the German state of Baden-Württemberg... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
November 22, 2005 – present | |
| Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is a ministry in Germany. Its main office is at the former German Chancellery in Bonn with a second major office at the Europahaus in Berlin.... |
Dirk Niebel Dirk Niebel Dirk Niebel is a German politician. He is since 2009 Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development. From 2005 to 2009, he was secretary general of the FDP.-Background:... |
FDP Free Democratic Party (Germany) The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government... |
October 28, 2009 – present | |
| Federal Minister for Special Tasks Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany A Federal Minister for Special Affairs is a federal minister without portfolio of Germany.Currently, the title is commonly given to the head of the Chancellery to provide him with a vote in cabinet meetings... , Head of the Chancellery German Chancellery The German Chancellery is a federal agency serving the executive office of the Chancellor, the head of the German federal government. The chief of the Chancellery holds the rank of either a Secretary of State or a Federal Minister ... |
Ronald Pofalla Ronald Pofalla Ronald Pofalla is a German politician, currently serving as the Chief of Staff of the German Chancellery and a Federal Minister for Special Affairs in the Second Cabinet Merkel.... |
CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
October 28, 2009 – present |
Religion
At the Cabinet's inception, Protestants and Catholics were equally represented, each with 7 ministers. Two ministers have not stated their religious beliefs. However, when the Cabinet was sworn in, Chancellor Merkel and all the ministers used the optional formula "so help me God". Minister of the Interior Thomas de MaizièreThomas de Maizière
Karl Ernst Thomas de Maizière is a German politician , currently serving as the Minister of Defence in the Second Cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel....
is a member of the presidium of the Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag
Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag
The Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag is a movement of lay members of the Evangelical Church in Germany...
, a Protestant organisation. Minister of Education Annette Schavan
Annette Schavan
' is a German politician . She has been the Federal Minister of Education and Research since November 22, 2005.From 1995-2005, she served as the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of the German state of Baden-Württemberg...
is a member of the Central Committee of German Catholics
Central Committee of German Catholics
The Central Committee of German Catholics is lay body comprising representatives of various Catholic organisations in Germany. They organise the Catholic Days in Germany. The organisation is headquartered in Bonn....
. Minister of Economics and Technology Philipp Rösler
Philipp Rösler
Philipp Rösler is a German politician, who, since 2011, has been the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology and the Vice Chancellor of Germany...
is also an active member of Catholic organisations.