German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has appointed the new members of the Federal Cabinet. The head of state handed the ministers their appointment certificates at a ceremony at Bellevue Palace on Tuesday evening. The new federal government is now officially in office.
“In assuming political responsibility, you have a great responsibility” said Steinmeier. “I wish you courage and moderation, patience in the confrontation, determination in action, clarity in the goal and the constant awareness of what unites us: the responsibility for democracy and the well-being of those for whom you act” he added.
The new cabinet will hold its first meeting on Tuesday. The schedule for the start of the new government was delayed by a few hours after Friedrich Merz (CDU) became the first chancellor in the history of the Federal Republic to fail to secure the necessary majority in the first round of voting. He was only elected as the successor to Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the second round.