SZ am Abend: News from April 28, 2025

New federal government: These are the men and women the CDU/CSU is sending to the cabinet. A good two months after the federal election, the first ministers for the future Christian Democratic Union (CDU)-Social Democratic Party (SPD) government have been appointed. Katherina Reiche, a manager in the energy sector since 2019, is set to become Minister of Economic Affairs. Johann Wadephul will become Foreign Minister. He is among the politicians in the CDU/CSU who are calling for a rethink in dealing with the AfD. Read the article (SZ Plus)

Mediamarkt CEO Karsten Wildberger takes over the Digital Ministry (SZ Plus)

New Minister of State for Culture: Former “Focus” editor-in-chief and media entrepreneur Weimer (SZ Plus)

OPINION Merz wants to send a clear message with his ministerial election (SZ Plus)

CDU approves coalition agreement with SPD. The CDU's small party conference thus clears the way for the CDU/CSU to form a coalition with the SPD. The CSU has already approved the agreement. The Social Democrats will decide by member vote – the result is expected to be announced this Wednesday. Read the article

EXCLUSIVE: Dissatisfaction with CDU ministerial list among the workers' wing. Dennis Radtke, head of the Christian Democratic Workers' Association (CDA), finds it wrong that no representative of the party's Christian-Social roots is part of the cabinet. "That never happened from Adenauer to Merkel," Radtke told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Read the article

War in Ukraine: Kremlin announces three-day ceasefire. Putin plans to lay down arms from May 8 to 10, inclusive. These days mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. If Ukraine violates the ceasefire, Russia will react, according to the presidential office in Moscow. Read the article (SZ Plus)

EPP Chairman Manfred Weber urges the creation of a European Defence Union (SZ Plus)

Where the front runs – Day 1160 (SZ Plus)

Blackout paralyzes Spain and Portugal. Unusually massive power outages have paralyzed numerous locations on the Iberian Peninsula. Trains are at a standstill, traffic lights are out, and emergency generators are running in hospitals. The cause has not yet been determined. EU Council President Costa did not confirm initial suspicions of a cyberattack. Read the article (SZ Plus)

Conclave: Election of the new pope begins on May 7. The See of Peter must be filled anew: The cardinals of the Catholic Church gathered in Rome agree on the start date for the election. In the so-called pre-conclave, they are already discussing the future of the millennia-old institution. The Sistine Chapel has been closed to visitors since this Monday. Read the article

Lauterbach defends electronic patient records against criticism. At the nationwide launch of the project on Tuesday, patient advocates accused the Federal Minister of Health of misleading the public: Insured individuals have no option to make individual documents available only to specific doctors, therapists, or pharmacies. Lauterbach, however, emphasizes that a medical report cannot be viewed by others against the patient's will. Read the article