Merkel’s conservatives announce cabinet members

Berlin – Germany’s Christian Social Union (CSU) announced its cabinet members of a grand coalition under Chancellor Angela Merkel Sunday.

The CSU, Bavarian sister party o! f Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), will lead three ministries in the new government, Xinhua quoted CSU chief Horst Seehofer as saying.

The three posts of agriculture, transport as well as economic cooperation and development will be taken by CSU’s Hans-Peter Friedrich, Alexander Dobrindt and Gerd Muller respectively.

Earlier in the day, the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) briefed media about its cabinet members.

The SPD will take six posts, including economy and energy, foreign affairs, labour, environment, justice and families, party leader Sigmar Gabriel said at a press conference here.

If all goes to plan, party leaders will formally sign the coalition agreement Monday.

Merkel is expected to be re-elected chancellor in a vote in the lower house of parliament Tuesday and the new coalition will then be sworn into office.