Merkel names her team

German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced yesterday the names of the six CDU politicians who will join her in the next grand coalition should the rank-and-file SPD members agree to join in government.

Their decision will be made known at the weekend.

Among the six names there are some new faces and Merkel will be the only CDU cabinet minister who will be over 60.

There will be no CDU cabinet minister from east Germany.