Second Wüst cabinet

The previous cabinet was a coalition government of the CDU and Free Democratic Party (FDP) led by Minister-President Hendrik Wüst of the CDU, who took office in October 2021.

The election took place on 15 May 2022, and resulted in small gains for the CDU and major losses for the FDP. The opposition Social Democratic Party (SPD) recorded a decline, while the Greens almost tripled their vote share to 18% and moved into third place. Overall, the incumbent coalition lost its majority.[1][2]

After the election, the CDU and SPD both held exploratory discussions with the Greens, who held the balance of power and could form a government with either the CDU or the SPD and FDP. However, the FDP refused talks in the belief that a CDU–Green government was a foregone conclusion.[3] With no other options available, the Greens voted to initiate coalition talks with the CDU, who reciprocated on 29 May.[4] Negotiations began on 31 May.[5]

The CDU and Greens presented their coalition agreement on 23 June.[6] It was approved near-unanimously by a CDU conference on 25 June.[7] The same day, it passed the Greens congress with 85%. There were objections from members who criticised the proposed separation of the agriculture portfolio from the environment ministry, as well as the state Green Youth, who rejected the prospect of coalition with the CDU outright on the basis that it could not sufficiently address pressing issues such as climate change, affordability, and rent and housing.[8]

Wüst was elected as Minister-President by the Landtag on 28 June, winning 106 votes out of 180 cast.[9] His new cabinet was sworn in the next day.[10]

• "Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst appoints his new state cabinet". State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia (in German). 29 June 2022.