Overview

• Friedrich Merz, poised to become Germany's next chancellor, has revealed the CDU/CSU ministerial nominees for the incoming coalition government with the SPD.
• Key appointments include Katherina Reiche as Minister for Economics and Energy and Karsten Wildberger, a business executive, as Minister for Digitalization and State Modernization.
• Johann Wadephul is set to become the first CDU Foreign Minister in nearly six decades, while Alexander Dobrindt is nominated as Minister of the Interior.
• Criticism has emerged from opposition parties and within the CDU, citing concerns over a perceived conservative shift and limited representation of certain party factions.
• The SPD membership vote on the coalition agreement concludes on April 29, with Merz's election as chancellor anticipated on May 6, pending SPD approval.