BREMEN'S SPD-GREENS COALITION ANNOUNCES NEW GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS HAMBURG 000045 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/AGS; SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL GM SUBJECT: BREMEN'S SPD-GREENS COALITION ANNOUNCES NEW GOVERNMENT REF: A. A) HAMBURG 038 ¶B. B) HAMBURG 031 ¶C. C) HAMBURG 031 ¶1. (U) On June 18, the Bremen Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Green Party presented their coalition agreement for governing the city-state of Bremen/Bremerhaven. The agreement, which was completed on June 16 - five weeks after the May 13 elections, is based upon three pillars; strengthening Bremen as an economic power, upgrading the city-state's social cohesion and equality of opportunities, and safeguarding Bremen's autonomy. The Bremen SPD will hold a party convention on June 23 to approve the new agreement and the Bremen Greens will hold their convention on June 25. ¶2. (U) The city-state will continue to have a seven-person cabinet, now with four SPD senators, two Green senators and one independent. Jens Boehrnsen (SPD) will remain Bremen's Minister President (President of the Senate) and Mayor. Boehrnsen will also be responsible for federal and cultural affairs. He handed off his justice portfolio to the new Economics Senator, Ulrich Nussbaum. Nussbaum, who is an independent, comes from a business background in Bremerhaven. Current Senator for Education Willi Lemke (SPD) will become Senator for the Interior and the previous Minister for Culture in Lower Saxony Renate Juergens-Pieper (SPD) will take over the education portfolio. Ingelore Rosenkoetter (SPD) will remain Senator for Social Affairs. Head of the Green Party Caucus Karoline Linnert will take on the responsibility for Bremen's finances and the Bundestag Member and economist Reinhard Loske (Greens) will become the Senator for Construction, Environment, and Transportation. ¶3. (U) This message has been coordinated with Embassy Berlin. BUTCHER