Germany’s conservatives name veteran defence policy expert as foreign minister

Berlin (dpa) – Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU), who are set to lead the country’s next government, revealed their picks for Cabinet on Monday, with the party nominating Johann Wadephul as foreign minister.

Wadephul, an experienced foreign and security policy expert, is set to be the first CDU politician at the helm of the Foreign Ministry in almost 60 years.

Named to the post at a time of rapidly shifting geopolitics, Wadephul will be faced with a number of tasks requiring a delicate hand, including how to position Berlin amid growing calls for more German leadership in Europe, and an ever-more abrasive US president.

The CDU’s pick for economy minister, Katherina Reiche, will also have her work cut out for her, with Germany’s ailing economy expected to be the main focus of the incoming administration.

Reiche, a former lawmaker, will return to politics following a years-long stint at German energy giant E.ON.

Germany’s conservative bloc, which also includes the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), struck a coalition deal with the Social Democrats (SPD) earlier this month, after emerging victorious from parliamentary elections in February.

A majority of CDU delegates at a small party conference in Berlin voted in favour of the 144-page agreement, titled “Responsibility for Germany.” With the CSU already having approved the agreement, all eyes will now be on the centre-left SPD, whose 358,000 members have until late Tuesday to vote on the agreement.

If they approve it, Friedrich Merz is set to be elected the next German chancellor by parliament on May 6.

As Germany’s new government forms, its influence within the European Union will be vital, particularly in tackling the escalating challenges of security, and the drive to reinforce European cohesion in the face of external pressures. (28 April)