Fourth Merkel cabinet

Fourth Merkel cabinet
Cabinet name	Fourth Merkel cabinet
Cabinet number	24th Cabinet of the Federal Republic of Germany
Jurisdiction	Germany
Caption	Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2018.
Date formed	14 March 2018
Date dissolved	8 December 2021
Government head	Angela Merkel
Government head history	Chancellor
State head	Frank-Walter Steinmeier
State head title	President
Members number	16
Total number	20
Political party	• CDU • CSU • SPD
Legislature status	Grand coalition
Election	2017 German federal election
Legislature term	19th Bundestag
Predecessor	Third Merkel cabinet
Successor	Scholz cabinet

Fourth Merkel cabinet. The Fourth Merkel cabinet was the government of Germany from March 2018 to December 2021, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel. Formed after protracted negotiations following the 2017 German federal election, it was a renewed grand coalition between the CDU, its Bavarian sister party CSU, and the SPD. This cabinet, Merkel's fourth and final, governed during a period marked by significant international crises and domestic political transitions.

Formation and composition

The cabinet's formation was a prolonged process, beginning after the 2017 German federal election resulted in a fragmented Bundestag. Initial exploratory talks between the CDU/CSU, the FDP, and Alliance 90/The Greens collapsed in November 2017. This led to a reluctant SPD, led by Martin Schulz, agreeing to enter renewed coalition negotiations, which were finalized with a coalition treaty in February 2018. Key appointments included Olaf Scholz of the SPD as Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister, and Heiko Maas (SPD) taking over the Federal Foreign Office. Ursula von der Leyen remained Defence Minister, while Horst Seehofer of the CSU led the pivotal Interior Ministry.

Policy agenda

The coalition's policy agenda, outlined in the treaty "A New Awakening for Europe, A New Dynamic for Germany, A New Cohesion for Our Country," aimed to balance social welfare with fiscal stability. Key priorities included strengthening European Union integration, advancing digitalization of the German economy and government services, and implementing a "docking solution" for nationwide rent control. The agenda also emphasized increasing investment in defense, infrastructure, and education, while committing to Germany's energy transition and climate goals following the Paris Agreement.

Key legislation and initiatives

Significant legislative achievements included the Climate Change Act 2019, which set legally binding targets for greenhouse gas reduction. The cabinet also passed the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act to better integrate foreign workers and implemented the second phase of the parental benefit plus scheme. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it enacted sweeping measures like the Infection Protection Act amendments, massive economic stabilization funds, and the pioneering Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Entry Regulations to manage travel. The cabinet also oversaw the phase-out of coal-fired power plants by 2038 and increased development aid spending.

Domestic affairs and challenges

Domestically, the cabinet faced considerable challenges, most prominently the COVID-19 pandemic, which dominated its final years and required unprecedented federal intervention in public health and the economy. The rise of the AfD as the main opposition party in the Bundestag altered the political landscape. Internal coalition tensions flared over issues like migration policy, particularly regarding Seehofer's push for turnbacks at the Austrian border, and over the wiretapping scandal involving the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The cabinet also navigated the Wirecard accounting scandal and growing public pressure from the Fridays for Future movement.

Foreign policy and international relations

In foreign policy, the cabinet worked to uphold a rules-based international order amidst growing tensions. Merkel and Heiko Maas advocated for multilateralism within the European Union and at forums like the United Nations and G7. Key efforts included negotiating the EU Recovery Fund in response to the pandemic's economic fallout and maintaining dialogue with Vladimir Putin's Russia despite conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. Relations with the United States were strained under President Donald Trump over issues like Nord Stream 2, trade, and NATO defense spending, but saw a reset with the election of Joe Biden. The cabinet also managed complex relations with China and Turkey.

Dissolution and legacy

The cabinet dissolved following the 2021 German federal election, which concluded the 16-year chancellorship of Angela Merkel. It was succeeded by the Scholz cabinet, a three-party coalition led by Olaf Scholz. Its legacy is defined by crisis management, particularly its steering of Germany through the COVID-19 pandemic and the preceding eurozone crises. While credited with maintaining economic stability and European cohesion, it faced criticism for perceived slow digitalization, underinvestment in infrastructure, and a cautious approach to major reforms. The era marked the end of the Merkel epoch in German and European politics.

Category:Cabinets of Germany Category:Angela Merkel Category:2018 establishments in Germany Category:2021 disestablishments in Germany