Overview

• Katherina Reiche, confirmed as economics minister-designate on April 28, faces criticism from Germany's largest LGBTQ+ organization, LSVD, for past statements on same-sex marriage and queer families.
• The LSVD has called Reiche's earlier remarks exclusionary and demands a public repudiation, highlighting broader concerns about queer representation in the Merz cabinet.
• Internal CDU/CSU discontent has emerged over cabinet portfolio allocations, particularly regarding a lack of diversity and representation of migrant backgrounds.
• Reiche's career spans decades in politics and industry, including roles as a parliamentary secretary, head of the municipal utilities association (VkU), and CEO of Westenergie.
• The coalition awaits the results of the SPD membership vote on April 30, a key step before the Bundestag confidence vote scheduled for May 6.