The centre-right CDU party and its sister party CSU both announced on Monday, April 28th, their nominees for ministerial posts in the incoming German government.
The cabinet, which is set to take office on May 6th, will consist of the CDU, the CSU, and the Social Democrats (SPD).
Sixty-two-year-old Johann Wadephul is set to become the foreign minister, nominated by the CDU. The MP, a former soldier and trained lawyer, is loyal to CDU leader Friedrich Merz, the next chancellor.
He has regularly voiced his support for Ukraine in its war with invading Russia, and has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed peace deal which would see Kyiv forced to give up territory.
In a 2023 interview, he advocated that Ukraine be allowed to use the weapons supplied by Germany, among others, on Russian territory.
CSU’s Alexander Dobrindt will become the next interior minister. His task is to crack down on illegal immigration, but his job will likely be hindered by the left-wing SPD, which espouses pro-migration policies. In 2018, Dobrindt caused controversy when he doubled down on his belief that “Islam is not part of Germany.”
Another interesting choice is Karsten Wildberger, the chief executive of the Ceconomy group, which owns German digital retailers Saturn and Mediamarkt. He will lead a new ministry for digitalisation and modernisation.
The CDU and the CSU will hold 10 ministerial posts between them, the SPD will take seven, including the finance ministry.
