Germany's Grand Coalition: The Social Democrat's Ministers

The social democrats have named their ministers for the grand coalition that probably will govern Germany for the next 4 years. Here is a brief assessment of their political positions:

Franz Muentefering, Vice Chancellor and Minister for Labor and Social Policies. Muentefering is a staunch ally of the German unions. Don't expect support for exciting pro market reforms from him.

Peer Steinbrueck, Minister for Finance. Steinbrueck, president of the state of North Rhine Westphalia from 2002 to 2005, is a financial technocrat. Consider him right wing from a social democrat perspective.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier: Foreign Minister. Current chief-of-staff of Gerhard Schroeder. As foreign minister he's expected to carry forth Schroeder's anti-American policy. Muentefering about Steinmeier: ""I know how closely he has worked with Schroeder and Fischer in preparing policy matters and how well he knows Europe."

Ulla Schmidt: Minister for Health. Staunch defender of Germany's socialist health system.

Brigitte Zypries: Minister for Justice. Old Schroeder hand.

Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul: Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. Hysterical left-winger and America hater. While nurturing a socialist profile in public, her personal financial decisions have a strong capitalist scent (the site I link to is awful, but the story is true...).

Sigmar Gabriel: Minister for the Environment. President of the state of lower saxony from 1999 to 2003 and then kicked out by the voters. Old Schroeder hand. 

Wolfgang Tiefensee: Transportation Minister. Currently mayor of Leipzig. Difficult to assess his political positions. Most likely included in new government to represent East German interests.

I suggest not to expect from these social democrats substantial deviations from Schroeder's policies. Improvements in German-American relations will have to come from conservative ministers or from chancellor Merkel.

The conservative ministers will most likely be named early next week.

Comments

[Martina Zitterbart]

Siegmar -> Sigmar
major of Leipzig -> mayor of Leipzig

Gern geschehen :-)

Note from David: Thanks, Martina. Had "Sigmar" correct the first time, then changed the link and retyped it...

[joe]

Looks like a winning team to me.

[James]

Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul

Firstly, do you also dye your hair?

Is that the same woman who traveled to Namibia and stunned the country by confessing the German colonial extermination of the native Herero today amounted to extermination. What stunned them is that they thought they would get compensation, instead they got an I'm sorry.

What people don't understand is that this wanton violence against defenseless people was a dress-rehersal for a more efficient volilence later conducted against:Jews, Poles, Russians and anyone else with a different opinion...

http://www.bundesregierung.de/en/Latest-News/Speeches-,10155.699664/rede/Federal-Minister-Heidemarie-Wi.htm

The SPD: You can be a Chancellor who "defends" workers rights, whilst wearing 5000GBP Brioni suits. Later you get a job in Finance, whilst having directed rhetoric against the your later employer to gain votes. Also, you can show pathetic vanity defending speculation if you dye your hair or not...

[neocon]

Offtopic: please tell me why you think the german medical assurance system is ineficient.
I never had the chance to compare it to the american system.
To some point I agree that it's too expensive, but I would like to hear your opinion
Thanks ;)

[Justin Time]

Could someone please explain to me how the responsibilities are split between the finance and economics portfolios?

[Brock Landers]

@Jutin Time

"Economics minister" is a not ideal translation of "Wirtschaftsminister"; in German, "Wirtschaft" means "the economy" in the sense of "the productive sector", often in the sense of its owners.

The "Economics minister" in principle resembles the Secretary of Commerce in the US, while the Finance Minister corresponds to the Secretary of the Treasury and, I think, also the Budget Director.