Cabinet Merkel I
The Cabinet Merkel I was the government of Germany between November 22, 2005 and October 27, 2009, during the 16th legislature of the Bundestag. Led by the Christian Democrat Angela Merkel (the first female chancellor in German history), it was supported by a grand coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). It followed the Cabinet Schröder II. It laid down its function after the formation of the Cabinet Merkel II, which was formed following the 2009 elections.
Composition
The federal cabinet consisted of the following Ministers:
| Office |
Incumbent |
In office |
Party |
| Chancellor |
Angela Merkel |
November 22, 2005 – Merkel II |
CDU |
| Vice-Chancellor |
Franz Müntefering |
November 22, 2005 – November 21, 2007 |
SPD |
| Frank-Walter Steinmeier |
November 21, 2007 – October 27, 2009 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs |
Frank-Walter Steinmeier |
November 22, 2005 – October 27, 2009 |
SPD |
| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs |
Franz Müntefering |
November 22, 2005 – November 21, 2007 |
SPD |
| Olaf Scholz |
November 21, 2007 – October 27, 2009 |
| Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety |
Sigmar Gabriel |
November 22, 2005 – October 27, 2009 |
SPD |
| Minister of Economics and Technology |
Michael Glos |
November 22, 2005 – February 10, 2009 |
CSU |
| Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg |
February 10, 2009 – October 27, 2009 |
| Minister of Defence |
Franz Josef Jung |
November 22, 2005 – October 27, 2009 |
CDU |
| Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth |
Ursula von der Leyen |
November 22, 2005 – Merkel II |
CDU |
| Minister for Special Tasks and Head of the Chancellery |
Thomas de Maizière |
November 22, 2005 – October 27, 2009 |
CDU |
| Minister of the Interior |
Wolfgang Schäuble |
November 22, 2005 – October 27, 2009 |
CDU |
| Minister of Education and Research |
Annette Schavan |
November 22, 2005 – Merkel II |
CDU |
| Minister of Health |
Ulla Schmidt |
January 12, 2001 – October 27, 2009 |
SPD |
| Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection |
Horst Seehofer |
November 22, 2005 – October 31, 2008 |
CSU |
| Ilse Aigner |
October 31, 2008 – October 27, 2009 |
| Minister of Finance |
Peer Steinbrück |
November 22, 2005 – October 27, 2009 |
SPD |
| Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs |
Wolfgang Tiefensee |
November 22, 2005 – October 27, 2009 |
SPD |
| Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development |
Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul |
October 27, 1998 – October 27, 2009 |
SPD |
| Minister of Justice |
Brigitte Zypries |
October 22, 2002 – October 27, 2009 |
SPD |
Formation of the grand coalition
Neither 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.
Both CDU/CSU and SPD achieved a similar percentage of votes at the election (35.2% and 34.2%, respectively), so they decided that each would receive eight cabinet seats (with six for the CDU and two for the CSU). On October 13 the SPD announced their future ministers and on October 17 the CDU/CSU announced theirs.
Edmund Stoiber (CSU) was to become the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, but refused the post on November 1, followed by a conflict with Angela Merkel over the abilities of the minister to succeed him.
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 November 12, 13, and 14. Angela Merkel was elected Chancellor of Germany on November 22 by 397 votes to 217. From that date the cabinet was officially in power.
See also
External links
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| German Empire |
Bismarck · Caprivi · Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst · Bülow · Bethmann Hollweg · Michaelis · Hertling · Baden
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| Weimar era |
Scheidemann · Bauer · Müller I · Fehrenbach · Wirth I · Wirth II · Cuno · Stresemann I · Stresemann II · Marx I · Marx II · Luther I · Luther II · Marx III · Marx IV · Müller II · Brüning I · Brüning II · von Papen · von Schleicher I
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| War era |
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| West Germany |
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| Post-reunification |
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