Angela Merkel and her cabinet | People & Politics

2010-01-05 1

There were a few surprises when the new center-right coalition's cabinet was introduced. Interior minister Wolfgang Schäuble moved to the Finance Ministry – making him the most important figure in Merkel’s new cabinet.Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg,a rising star in the old government,was given the Defence Ministry post as a testing ground. Newly appointed foreign minister Guido Westerwelle promised to carry on the old FDP foreign policy tradition of earlier coalitions. One of the big surprises was the appointment of a 36 year old from Hanover,the FDP's Philipp Rösler to the post of Health Minister.