[2][3] Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) replaced Philipp Rösler (FDP) as Vice Chancellor of Germany and became Federal Minister for Economics and Energy.

The CDU received five ministries in addition to the positions of Chancellor, as well as Chancellery Chief of Staff and Minister for Special Affairs.

[4] The term of office of the third Merkel cabinet officially ended with the constitution of the 19th Bundestag on Tuesday, 24 October 2017.

Merkel and her cabinet ministers received their discharge papers from the Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the same day.

On 8 February 2018, the negotiations resulted in a provisional agreement to form a grand coalition,[9] which was approved by the party members of the SPD and led to the formation of the new government on 14 March 2018.