German Defense Minister designate <a gi-track='captionPersonalityLinkClicked' href=/galleries/search?phrase=Ursula+von+der+Leyen&family=editorial&specificpeople=4249207 ng-click='$event.stopPropagation()'>Ursula von der Leyen</a> (L) talks with outgoing Defense Minister <a gi-track='captionPersonalityLinkClicked' href=/galleries/search?phrase=Thomas+de+Maiziere&family=editorial&specificpeople=618845 ng-click='$event.stopPropagation()'>Thomas de Maiziere</a> shortly before she was scheduled to attend her appointment ceremony at the Defense Ministery prior to ceremonies in which the new German government will be sworn in on December 17, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The new government is a coalition between the German Christian Democrats (CDU), the Bavarian Christian Democrats (CSU) and German Social Democrats (SPD) following federal elections held in September.