Merkel to become German Chancellor!

Angela Merkel and the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) have finally struck a power-sharing deal with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Germany, and Merkel will become Germany first female Chancellor and the first Chancellor from the former East Germany! While the "grand coalition" between the conservative CDU/CSU and their leftist SPD arch-rivals may not be a very stable or effective government, at least it will be better than Gerhard Schroeder's far-left SPD/Green coalition, which has lead Germany for the past seven years.

Under the agreement, the Social Democrats will be entitled the foreign, finance, labor, justice, health, transport, environment and development ministries (For Americans: "_____ Minister" is equivalent to "Secretary of ____" ); while the CDU/CSU will get the economy, defense, interior, agriculture, family and education ministries. If you count the Chancellor and her Cheif of Staff as cabinet officers, this gives both parties equal representation in the cabinet. It is unclear whether Gerhard Schroeder will play a part in the new government.

Personally, I think that counting the Chancellor as a cabinet post is baloney. She is head of government and the cabinet is under her supervision. I think that this really gives the SPD a cabinet majority and that the CDU/CSU should have demanded either the finance or justice ministry. Putting that aside, I am very happy that a deal has finally been struck.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHANCELLOR-ELECT ANGELA MERKEL!