The First Merkel cabinet (German: Kabinett Merkel I) was the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany from 22 November 2005 to 27 October 2009 throughout the 16th legislative session of the Bundestag.[1] Led by Christian Democrat Angela Merkel, the first female Chancellor in German history, the cabinet was supported by a grand coalition between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).[2]
First Cabinet of Angela Merkel Cabinet Merkel I | |
|---|---|
 20th Cabinet of the Federal Republic of Germany | |
| 22 November 2005 – 28 October 2009 | |
 | |
| Date formed | 22 November 2005 |
| Date dissolved | 27 October 2009 (3 years, 11 months and 5 days) |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Horst Köhler |
| Chancellor | Angela Merkel |
| Vice-Chancellor | Franz Müntefering (until 21 November 2007) Frank-Walter Steinmeier (from 21 November 2007) |
| Member party | Christian Democratic Union Social Democratic Party Christian Social Union of Bavaria |
| Status in legislature | Grand coalition 448/614 (73%)
|
| Opposition party | Free Democratic Party Party of Democratic Socialism The Greens |
| Opposition leader | Wolfgang Gerhardt (until 30 April 2006) Guido Westerwelle (from 30 April 2006) |
| History | |
| Election | 2005 federal election |
| Legislature terms | 16th Bundestag |
| Predecessor | Schröder II |
| Successor | Merkel II |
It was installed following the 2005 federal election and succeeded the second Schröder cabinet.[3] It ceased to function after the formation of second Merkel cabinet, which was installed after the 2009 federal elections and sworn in on 28 October 2009.[4]
Composition
editThe federal cabinet consisted of the following ministers:
| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellor | 22 November 2005 | Merkel II | CDU | ||
| Vice-Chancellor | 22 November 2005 | 21 November 2007 | SPD | ||
| 21 November 2007 | 27 October 2009 | SPD | |||
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Frank-Walter Steinmeier | 22 November 2005 | 27 October 2009 | SPD | |
| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs | 22 November 2005 | 21 November 2007 | SPD | ||
| 21 November 2007 | 27 October 2009 | SPD | |||
| Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety | 22 November 2005 | 27 October 2009 | SPD | ||
| Minister of Economics and Technology | 22 November 2005 | 10 February 2009 | CSU | ||
| 10 February 2009 | 27 October 2009 | CSU | |||
| Minister of Defence | 22 November 2005 | 27 October 2009 | CDU | ||
| Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth | 22 November 2005 | Merkel II | CDU | ||
| Minister for Special Tasks and Head of the Chancellery | 22 November 2005 | 27 October 2009 | CDU | ||
| Minister of the Interior | 22 November 2005 | 27 October 2009 | CDU | ||
| Minister of Education and Research | 22 November 2005 | Merkel II | CDU | ||
| Minister of Health | 12 January 2001 | 27 October 2009 | SPD | ||
| Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection | 22 November 2005 | 31 October 2008 | CSU | ||
| 31 October 2008 | Merkel II | CSU | |||
| Minister of Finance | 22 November 2005 | 27 October 2009 | SPD | ||
| Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs | 22 November 2005 | 27 October 2009 | SPD | ||
| Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development | 27 October 1998 | 28 October 2009 | SPD | ||
| Minister of Justice | 22 October 2002 | 27 October 2009 | SPD | ||
Formation of the grand coalition
editNeither the coalitions of the CDU/CSU and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) nor the ruling SPD and Alliance '90/The Greens had the vote of a majority of members of the Bundestag following the 2005 federal election, so the CDU/CSU and SPD decided to form the second grand coalition in the history of the federal republic.[2] Both CDU/CSU and SPD achieved a similar percentage of votes at the election (35.2% and 34.2%, respectively),[5] so they decided that each would receive eight cabinet seats (with six for the CDU and two for the CSU). On 13 October the SPD announced their future ministers and on 17 October the CDU/CSU announced theirs.[6]
Edmund Stoiber of the CSU was to become the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, but refused the post on 1 November after a conflict with Angela Merkel over the abilities of the minister to succeed him, and chose to continue his state-level role in Bavaria.[7]
The coalition agreement (Koalitionsvertrag), titled Together for Germany. With courage and humanity, was signed and accepted by the congress of the CDU, CSU, and SPD on 12, 13, and 14 November.[3] Angela Merkel was elected Chancellor of Germany on 22 November 2005 by 397 votes to 202. From that date the cabinet was officially in power.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Plenarprotokoll 16/3" [Plenary proceedings 16/3] (PDF).
- ^ a b "Analysis: German Coalition Deal". BBC News. 15 November 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Merkel to succeed Germany's Schröder". The Washington Post. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "Merkel's new cabinet sworn in". DW. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ "Election to the 16th German Bundestag of 18 September 2005". Federal Returning Officer. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ "Basic Agreement for Coalition Negotiations between CDU/CSU and SPD" (PDF). Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ "Edmund Stoiber". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ "Merkel sworn in as German chancellor". The Guardian. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
External links
edit- Official English names of German ministers and ministries (German Foreign Office)
- "Gemeinsam für Deutschland. Mit Mut und Menschlichkeit" (PDF) (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2007. (659 KiB), the agreement of the coalition of 12 November 2005 between the CDU, CSU and SPD.
- "English translation of the coalition agreement" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2007. (541 KiB), from the SPD official website.