Germany: A great supporter of Ukraine will be foreign minister in Friedrich Merz's government
Johann Wadeph. Photo: Kira Hofmann / Imago Stock & People / Profimedia
German conservatives announced on Monday that Johann Wadeph, a great supporter of military aid for Ukraine and an open critic of the Kremlin, will be nominated as German Foreign Minister, AFP reports.
Wadeph, 62, an expert in foreign policy issues for conservatives in the Parliament, is considered a close to the future chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Johann Wadeph, a member of the 2009 Parliament, will take over the head of German diplomacy from Annalena Baerbock, representative of the green.
Merz is to be chosen in the supreme position next week, on May 6, by German deputies, following the parliamentary elections won by his formation at the end of February.
Prior to this, the members of his government ally, Social Democrats (SPD), will have to approve the coalition contract, a kind of roadmap for the next four years, recently concluded between the two partners.
Merz's Christian-Democrat (CDU) Union also announced in a press release, the appointment of former environmental Secretary of State and Transport Katherina Reiche, 51 years old, as a future Minister of Economy, a distinct portfolio in Germany from that of Finance, which will return to a social-democrat.
The position of Minister of Economy is particularly important at a time when the greatest European economic power crosses a serious crisis of its industrial model. The country has undergone two recessions in a row, and its economy will stagnate this year.
The Ministry of Education will return to former regional minister Karin Prien, and the Ministry of Health Nina Warken.
The newly created ministry for the digitalization and modernization of the state will be led by the entrepreneur Karsten Wildberger, the owner of Ceconomy, a specialized distribution group in consumer electronic products and household appliances.
As expected, the chancellor's minister will be Thorsten Frei (CDU), a loyal of Merz.
The Bavarian Party CSU, a traditional CDU ally, is about to name its three ministers today.
Conservatives are to officially adopt the coalition agreement on Monday afternoon.
SPD intends to reveal their ministers, seven in total, following a vote of its members. In addition to Finance, the party also regained the defense portfolio, which should have returned to the current post holder, Boris Pistorius, also known for its pro-Ukraine position.
