Germany's next coalition government has taken shape as the Social Democratic Party, or SPD, announced key ministerial appointments including Olaf Scholz, the new finance minister.
Scholz, the former mayor of Hamburg who also served as labor minister from 2007 to 2009, is among the six SPD members given a cabinet post in the new government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported.
Incumbent Justice Minister Heiko Maas was appointed foreign minister, a post that former SPD leader Martin Schulz previously pursued.
Replacing Maas as justice minister is Katarina Barley, while Hubertus Heil will head the labor and social affairs ministry. Franziska Giffey and Svenja Schulze will be the next family and environment ministers, respectively.
In February, Merkel tapped acting Finance Minister Peter Altmaier to head the economy ministry.
Merkel secured her fourth term over the weekend as more than 66% of SPD members endorsed the coalition agreement struck with her conservatives, ending months of uncertainty following the September 2017 elections.
