The Wegner senate is the current state government of Berlin, sworn in on 27 April 2023 after Kai Wegner was elected as Governing Mayor of Berlin by the members of the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin. It is the 29th Senate of Berlin.
Senate of Kai Wegner Senate Wegner | |
|---|---|
 29th Senate of Berlin | |
| 27 April 2023 – | |
 The members of the Wegner senate at the Abgeordnetenhaus plenary session on 27 April 2023 From left to right: Ina Czyborra, Christian Gaebler, Cansel Kiziltepe, Stefan Evers, Katharina Günther-Wünsch, Felor Badenberg, Joe Chialo, Iris Spranger, Manja Schreiner, Franziska Giffey | |
| Date formed | 27 April 2023 |
| People and organisations | |
| Governing Mayor | Kai Wegner |
| Deputy Mayor | Franziska Giffey Stefan Evers |
| No. of ministers | 10 |
| Member parties | Christian Democratic Union Social Democratic Party |
| Status in legislature | Coalition government 86 / 159 |
| Opposition parties | Alliance 90/The Greens The Left Alternative for Germany |
| History | |
| Election | 2023 Berlin repeat state election |
| Legislature term | 19th Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin |
| Predecessor | Giffey senate |
It was formed after the 2023 Berlin repeat state election by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD). Excluding the Governing Mayor, the senate comprises ten ministers, called Senators. Five are members of the SPD, four are members of the CDU, and one is an independent politician (nominated by the CDU).
Formation
editThe previous Senate was a coalition government of the SPD, Left, and Greens led by Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey of the SPD.
The election took place on 12 February 2023, and resulted in a clear victory for the opposition CDU, moved from third to first place with 28% of the vote on a swing of ten percentage points. The SPD declined to 18.5% and finished just 53 votes ahead of the Greens. The Left recorded a small decline and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) a small improvement.
Overall, the outgoing coalition retained a reduced majority. After talks with several parties, on 1 March the SPD vote 25 to 12 to seek negotiations with the CDU for a grand coalition.[1] Negotiations began on 13 March and concluded on 3 April, with the two parties presenting a 135-page agreement.[2] It was subsequently submitted for approval by the SPD membership. The results of the vote were announced on 23 April, with 54.3% voting in favour on a turnout of 64%.[3]
The Abgeordnetenhaus elected Wegner as Governing Mayor on 27 April. He failed to win the first two ballots and was elected on the third, winning won 86 votes out of 159 cast, with 70 against, and three abstentions.[4]
| Governing Mayor election Kai Wegner (CDU)[5] | ||||
| Ballot → | 27 April 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 80 out of 159 | 80 out of 159 | Simple majority | |
| For | 71 / 159
|
79 / 159
|
86 / 159
| |
| Against | 86 / 159
|
79 / 159
|
70 / 159
| |
| Abstentions | 1 / 159
|
1 / 159
|
3 / 159
| |
| Invalid | 1 / 159
|
0 / 159
|
0 / 159
| |
Policy
editIn May 2023, the Wegner government created the role of Queer Berlin Liaison Officer.[6]
Composition
edit| Portfolio | Senator | Party | Took office | Left office | State secretaries | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governing Mayor of Berlin Senate Chancellery |
Kai Wegner born 15 September 1972 |
CDU | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Deputy Mayor Senator for Economy, Energy and Enterprise |
Franziska Giffey born 3 May 1978 |
SPD | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Deputy Mayor Senator for Finance |
Stefan Evers born 10 October 1979 |
CDU | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion | Joe Chialo born 18 July 1970 |
CDU | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Senator for Urban Development, Construction and Housing | Christian Gaebler born 8 December 1964 |
SPD | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Senator for Interior and Sport | Iris Spranger born 19 September 1961 |
SPD | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Senator for Education, Youth and Family | Katharina Günther-Wünsch born 3 April 1983 |
CDU | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Senator for Science, Health and Care | Ina Czyborra born 23 June 1966 |
SPD | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Senator for Labour, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination | Cansel Kiziltepe born 8 October 1975 |
SPD | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and Environment | Manja Schreiner born 29 April 1978 |
CDU | 27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
| Senator for Justice and Consumer Protection | Felor Badenberg born 21 May 1975 |
Ind. (CDU nomination) |
27 April 2023 | Incumbent |
| ||
References
edit- ^ "GroKo for Berlin? CDU and SPD want to form a coalition". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Black-red alliance: What is in the Berlin coalition agreement". ZDF (in German). 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Scholz party paves way for new center-right mayor in Berlin". Associated Press. 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Berlin's first conservative mayor in 22 years takes office". New Haven Register. 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
- ^ Sources for each ballot:
- "Kai Wegner fails in the first round of the mayoral election". Die Zeit (in German). 27 April 2023.
- "Berlin CDU leader Wegner also fails in the second round of election to head of government". Stern (in German). 27 April 2023.
- "Wegner elected governing mayor". Tagesschau (in German). 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Senat ernennt Alfonso Pantisano zur queerbeauftragten Person der Berliner Landesregierung". www.berlin.de (in German). 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
External links
edit- "The Senate of Berlin". Berlin.de (in German). Retrieved 28 April 2023.