On Monday, Germany‘s Social Democrats (SPD) announced that Boris Pistorius will continue as defence minister as they revealed their selections for the new coalition with the conservatives, set to be inaugurated this week.
Pistorius, who is the most popular politician in Germany, is the only SPD minister retaining his position in the new coalition following the SPD’s poorest performance in the national election on February 23. Last week, the SPD had already confirmed that co-leader Lars Klingbeil, 47, would assume the crucial finance ministry, while on Monday, they nominated former Bundestag president Baerbel Bas, 57, for the role of labour minister.
The coalition is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, with Friedrich Merz stepping in as the new chancellor after his conservatives won the February elections. The two parties are focused on revitalizing growth in Europe’s largest economy, especially as a global trade conflict ignited by U.S. President Donald Trump’s extensive import tariffs poses a risk of another recession, alongside increasing defence expenditures amid tensions within the transatlantic NATO alliance.
‘In light of the disappointing results from the federal election, we have collectively announced a renewal in both personnel and policy direction. With our government team, we, as the party leadership, are now taking the next step,’ stated party leader Lars Klingbeil.
Pistorius, who has served as defence minister since January 2023, is well-regarded for his straightforward approach and strong commitment to national security. The 65-year-old has indicated that Germany must prepare for the possibility of war by 2029 due to escalating threats from Russia—a significant assertion in a nation that has been deeply affected by its own military actions in the past century.
Many SPD members had supported Pistorius as a candidate for chancellor after the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition last November, but he withdrew from consideration when it became evident that Scholz would not step aside.
Among the seven ministers nominated by the SPD, five are women, allowing the cabinet to achieve its objective of gender parity. Carsten Schneider, 49, the former commissioner for East Germany, will head the newly established ministry for environment and climate protection, while Reem Alabali-Radovan, 35, the former state secretary for integration, will serve as the minister for development.
In a statement, Klingbeil, co-leader Saskia Esken, and General Secretary Matthias Miersch noted that experienced individuals from both federal and state politics are complemented by new representatives, signifying a generational shift within the SPD.
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