NEW GERMAN GOVERNMENT TAKES SHAPE.

Germany's new Chancellor-designate Angela Merkel announced on October 17 that her cabinet line-up was complete after the CDU-CSU named eight ministers who would take their place in the cabinet alongside the eight Social Democrats as part of the grand right-left coalition. Amongst the heavyweights of the conservative camp are the CDU's ex-leader, Wolfgang Schauble, as Minister of the Interior, Edmund Stoiber, Chairman of the Christian Social Union, as Minister for the Economy and Innovation and Horst Seehofer (deputy leader of the CSU party) as Consumer Affairs and Agriculture Minister. Angela Merkel's government is expected to take up position mid-November after completion of the negotiations which began on October 17 and once it has been confirmed by vote in the Bundestag.

Below is a list of the key ministers in Angela Merkel's government:

- Chancellor: Angela Merkel (CDU)

- Chief-of-staff: Thomas de Maiziere (CDU)

- Vice-Chancellor, Labour and Social Affairs Minister: Franz Muntefering (SPD)

- Foreign Affairs Minister: Frank-Walter...