The Merkel government resigned... until a coalition is formed

October 24, 2017. Berlin. A ceremony was held at the official residence of President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Bellevue Palace, during which members of the German government obtained certificates of resignation. Until the new government is formed, former ministers will have the same powers as before. However, they will try to keep political decisions at a minimum, the DW says. In addition, on the same day, Germany saw the first Bundestag meeting after the parliamentary election was held, at which the former finance minister, 75-year-old Wolfgang Schaeuble, was elected speaker. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko congratulated the politician on the election. “A deserved recognition of a widely respected & experienced politician, and, most importantly, a good friend of Ukraine,” he tweeted. Let us recall that the German election was won by the CDU/CSU bloc of parties, which means that Angela Merkel will keep the office of chancellor for the fourth term in a row. Pictured: Merkel shakes hands with German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen.