Key faces in Merkel’s new cabinet

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is embarking on a fourth term after securing a coalition deal between her conservative Christian Democrat Union/Christian Social Union and the centre-left Social Democrats 
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Olaf Scholz, 59
Finance Minister, Vice-chancellor
SPD

Lawyer served as Merkel’s labour minister during 2008 financial crisis before being elected mayor of Hamburg

Scholz, who stresses need for consensus within EU on eurozone reform, expected to stick to austere policies of CDU predecessor Wolfgang Schäuble
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Heiko Maas, 51
Foreign Minister
SPD

Former justice minister, introduced laws to limit hate speech on social media. Outspoken critic of far-right

Germany is facing calls to take more active approach on issues ranging from eurozone reforms, threat of U.S. trade sanctions, and more assertive Russia
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Horst Seehofer, 68
Minister of Interior
CSU

Leader of CSU, traditionally to right of CDU, is one of Germany’s most prominent politicians

Seehofer, one of Merkel’s strongest critics during 2015 migrant influx, promises to speed up asylum procedures and increase deportations of rejected applicants
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Ursula von der Leyen, 59
Defence
CDU

Only minister to keep same portfolio from previous government

As Germany’s role in foreign military operations grows, Von der Leyen wants more funding for armed forces, which have been dogged by equipment shortages
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Sources: Deutsche Welle, FT, Associated Press
Pictures: Getty Images, AP
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