Third Woidke cabinet explained

Cabinet Name:Third Cabinet of Dietmar Woidke
Cabinet Number:9th
Cabinet Type:Cabinet
Jurisdiction:Brandenburg
Flag:Brandenburg Wappen.svg
Flag Border:true
Incumbent:20 November 2019 –
Date Formed:20 November 2019
Government Head Title:Minister-President
Government Head:Dietmar Woidke
Deputy Government Head Title:Deputy Minister-President
Deputy Government Head:Michael Stübgen
Ursula Nonnemacher
Members Number:10
Political Parties:Social Democratic Party
Christian Democratic Union
Alliance 90/The Greens
Legislature Status:Coalition government
Opposition Parties:Alternative for Germany
The Left
BVB/Free Voters
Election:2019 Brandenburg state election
Legislature Term:7th Landtag of Brandenburg
Predecessor:Second Woidke cabinet

The Third Woidke cabinet is the current state government of Brandenburg, sworn in on 20 November 2019 after Dietmar Woidke was elected as Minister-President of Brandenburg by the members of the Landtag of Brandenburg. It is the 9th Cabinet of Brandenburg.

It was formed after the 2019 Brandenburg state election by the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and Alliance 90/The Greens (GRÜNE). Excluding the Minister-President, the cabinet comprises ten ministers. Five are members of the SPD, three are members of the CDU, and two are members of the Greens.

Formation

See also: 2019 Brandenburg state election. The previous cabinet was a coalition government of the SPD and The Left led by Minister-President Dietmar Woidke of the SPD.

The election took place on 1 September 2019, and resulted in significant losses for both governing parties. The opposition CDU also suffered losses, while the AfD became the second largest party and the BVB/FW narrowly passed the 5% threshold.

Overall, the incumbent coalition lost its majority. Two new coalitions were considered: a red-red-green coalition of the SPD, Left, and Greens, and a Kenya coalition of the SPD, CDU, and Greens. Of these, the former was considered more likely as it would represent a less radical departure from the outgoing government. Likewise, the Left and Greens shared a greater policy overlap with the SPD compared to the CDU. On the other hand, the Kenya coalition would have a safer majority of 50 seats compared to 45 for the red-red-green coalition, which held only a one-seat majority.[1]

On 19 September, Minister-President Woidke announced that the SPD would seek coalition negotiations with the CDU and Greens.[2] Discussions began on 23 September, and the three parties presented their coalition agreement on 24 October.[3] [4] It was subsequently approved by the SPD party congress with 113 votes in favour, no votes against and one abstention on 15 November.[5] The CDU carried out an advisory survey of party members, who voted 85.7% in support. The agreement was subsequently approved by the party congress on 16 November.[6] The Greens held a membership ballot to review the pact, the results of which were announced on 18 November; with a turnout of 59%, it received 90.8% approval.[7]

Woidke was elected as Minister-President by the Landtag on 20 November, winning 47 votes out of 87 cast.[8]

Composition

PortfolioMinisterPartyTook officeLeft officeState secretaries
Minister-PresidentDietmar Woidke
bgcolor=SPD20 November 2019Incumbent
First Deputy Minister-President
Minister for Interior and Communities
Michael Stübgen
bgcolor=CDU20 November 2019Incumbent
Second Deputy Minister-President
Minister for Social Affairs, Health, Integration and Consumer Protection
Ursula Nonnemacher
bgcolor=GRÜNE20 November 2019Incumbent
Minister for JusticeSusanne Hoffmann
bgcolor=CDU20 November 2019Incumbent
Minister for Finance and EuropeKatrin Lange
bgcolor=SPD20 November 2019Incumbent
Minister for Infrastructure and State PlanningGuido Beermann
bgcolor=CDU20 November 2019Incumbent
Minister for Economics, Labour and EnergyJörg Steinbach
bgcolor=SPD20 November 2019Incumbent
Minister for Education, Youth and SportBritta Ernst
bgcolor=SPD20 November 2019Incumbent
Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Climate ProtectionAxel Vogel
bgcolor=GRÜNE20 November 2019Incumbent
Minister for Science, Research and CultureManja Schüle
bgcolor=SPD20 November 2019Incumbent
Head of the State ChancelleryKathrin Schneider
bgcolor=SPD20 November 2019Incumbent

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Who governs? These coalitions are likely in Saxony and Brandenburg. 1 September 2019. de. Handelsblatt.
  2. Web site: Brandenburg is heading towards the Kenya coalition. 19 September 2019. de. Süddeutsche Zeitung.
  3. Web site: Kenya coalition is set in Brandenburg. 24 October 2019. de. Die Zeit.
  4. Web site: The Kenya coalition agreement in Brandenburg at a glance. 24 October 2019. de. Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten.
  5. Web site: Brandenburg's Social Democrats agree to Kenya coalition agreement. 15 November 2019. de. Die Zeit.
  6. Web site: Kenya in Brandenburg: CDU votes clearly for coalition with red-green. 16 November 2019. de. RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland.
  7. Web site: Greens vote for Kenya coalition. 18 November 2019. de. Der Spiegel.
  8. Web site: Woidke re-elected Minister-President of Brandenburg. 20 November 2019. de. Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg.