Friedrich Merz bets on two private sector converts to revive the German economy and reform the state

Katherina Reiche is a fortunate acquisition,

responded Veronika Grimm, a renowned liberal economist and member of the German Council of Economic Experts

Friedrich MerzcDU leader

I've always said I would only do this in coordination with our European partners,

Merz said

Friedrich MerzcDU leader

We have great tasks ahead of us, ... and they demand appropriate answers."

Merz said in his TV interview ... He added

We are a great country of more than 80 million people, who live and work here and take care of their families,

he said

Karl-Rudolf Kortepolitical scientist

The fact that a vice-chancellor is also finance minister and party chairman is an unusual concentration of power,

political scientist Karl-Rudolf Korte told Focus magazine

This government must succeed. It must do so with team play, with the courage to make decisions and with more trust in the citizens,

Klingbeil said to those gathered, adding

Friedrich MerzcDU leader

Tomorrow you will get ... a government that is determined to move Germany forwards with reforms and investment,

Merz said Monday ahead of the agreement being signed according to a CNBC translation

In the new government, Merz and the undisputed leader of the SPD, new finance minister Lars Klingbeil, will be calling the shots. What these two leaders agree will likely get done, with some occasional sniping from Bavarian CSU boss Markus Söder,

he said

We live in times of profound change, of profound upheaval … and of great uncertainty, and that is why we know that it is our historic obligation to lead this coalition to success,

he said

Lars Klingbeilleader

The new government needs real teamwork more than ever.”

The SPD’s Lars Klingbeil, the designated vice chancellor and finance minister, said

Saskia EskensPD co-leader

Experienced figures from federal and state politics are joined by new faces who represent a generational shift within the SPD,

Klingbeil, co-leader Saskia Esken and General Secretary Matthias Miersch said in a statement

Lars Klingbeilleader

As a consequence of the poor results in the federal election, we jointly announced a renewal in both personnel and policy direction. With our government team, we as the party leadership are now taking the next step,

party leader Lars Klingbeil said

I reiterate that the insinuations contained [in Rubio's comments] are certainly unfounded,

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer was quoted by French news agency AFP as saying

Wolfram Weimer is not suitable for this central office of cultural policy. He is a conservative publisher who has hardly come out as a cultural figure,

the petition read

This government must be successful,

Klingbeil said before signing the coalition agreement

Merz is an emotional person and he shows it,

says one CDU aide,

Angela Merkelchemist

To be chancellor you must have an absolute will for power – and Friedrich Merz has that.”

Asked last year about her ally-turned-rival, Merkel delivered a pitch-perfect put-down

Say what you want about Merkel, ... but she made ours a party that my daughter voted for.”

said one recently retired CDU politician

Merz appeals to the people who feel steamrollered by modern life, ... he gives them a sense of order again”.

says a conservative-liberal CDU official