CDU's Gordon Schnieder to become Rhineland-Palatinate premier, ending 35-year SPD rule

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Rhineland-Palatinate have approved a coalition agreement, clearing the way for CDU state leader Gordon Schnieder to become the first CDU minister-president in Mainz in 35 years.

The CDU's Landesparteiausschuss in Mainz approved the roughly 100-page agreement with standing ovations. The SPD's Landesparteitag in Nieder-Olm backed the pact with a large majority. Outgoing SPD minister-president Alexander Schweitzer, who led his party's negotiations, urged delegates to support the coalition. "Lasst euch nicht auf die Spur bringen, zu glauben, dass man eine gemeinsame Regierung führt und permanent dann zwischen der Rolle von Opposition und Regierung wechseln kann. Die Menschen goutieren das nicht," he said. Schnieder, the designated minister-president, said: "Die Menschen wollten eine Politik die funktioniert, Probleme anpackt und löst."

The state parliament is scheduled to elect Schnieder as minister-president on May 18. The CDU and SPD together hold a majority of just over two-thirds of seats in the chamber. The new cabinet is expected to be sworn in shortly after the vote.

The March 22 state election produced a decisive shift: the CDU won 31.0% of the vote, ahead of the SPD's 25.9%. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) received 19.5% and the Greens 7.9%. The result ends 35 years of SPD-led governments in the state. Previous CDU minister-presidents in Mainz included Helmut Kohl and Bernhard Vogel.