German Foreign Minister Gabriel won’t be in new government

BERLIN

Germany’s acting Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on March 8 that he would not be a member of the new government under conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel who will lead a coalition with his Social Democrats (SPD). 

As part of the coalition deal, it has been agreed that the SPD will choose who will be the new foreign minister and the party has said it will announce its decision early on March 9.

Gabriel, a former leader of the SPD, said on his Facebook page that he had been informed by the party’s new leaders, Olaf Scholz and Andrea Nahles, that he would not be part of the new government. “[Serving my party] has been a big honor for which I am deeply grateful,” he said.

Gabriel has been engaged in an intense dialogue with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to resolve disputes between the two NATO allies and trade partners.