German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (sitting, 3rd R) and members of his cabinet place themselves to pose for a family photo during a two-day meeting of the German federal cabinet at the Villa Borsig, guesthouse of the German Foreign Ministry, in Berlin on September 30, 2025: (first row, sitting, L-R): German Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Baerbel Bas, German Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche, German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and German Minister for Research, Technology and Aerospace Dorothee Baer, (row behind, L-R): German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, German Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign Office Gunther Krichbaum (hidden), German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, German Minister for Justice and Consumer Protection Stefanie Hubig, German Minister for Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Karin Prien and German Minister for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Carsten Schneider. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)