Schlie highlights that the composition of the new government remained uncertain until the last minute, leading to speculation and surprising appointments. The final selection of ministers reflects the political imprint of CDU leader Friedrich Merz, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, and CSU head Markus Söder—outcomes of tense negotiations between mutually wary coalition partners.
Merz kept his promise to appoint candidates with strong business credentials, such as new Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche and Karsten Wildberger, the new Minister for Digitalization and State Modernization.
One of the most notable appointments is that of Wolfram Weimer as Minister of State for Culture—a seasoned journalist without prior political or administrative experience—tasked with depoliticizing a previously ideologically charged cultural policy. Schlie notes that traditional proportional representation of party factions, particularly among regional associations, was largely ignored, stirring discontent, especially in eastern federal states.