First Schmidt cabinet
First Cabinet of Helmut Schmidt Cabinet Schmidt I | |
|---|---|
10th Cabinet of the Federal Republic of Germany | |
| 16 May 1974 – 16 December 1976 (until 14 December 1976 as caretaker government) | |
| Date formed | 16 May 1974 |
| Date dissolved | 14 December 1976 (2 years, 6 months and 4 weeks) |
| People and organisations | |
| President | Gustav Heinemann |
| Chancellor | Helmut Schmidt |
| Vice-Chancellor | Hans-Dietrich Genscher |
| Member party | Social Democratic Party Free Democratic Party |
| Status in legislature | Coalition government |
| Opposition party | Christian Democratic Union Christian Social Union |
| Opposition leader |
|
| History | |
| Election | None |
| Legislature terms | 7th Bundestag |
| Predecessor | Brandt II |
| Successor | Schmidt II |
The First Schmidt cabinet was the government of West Germany between 16 May 1974 and 14 December 1976, during the 7th legislature of the Bundestag. It was formed after Brandt had resigned from his position as chancellor on 6 May 1974. Led by the Social Democrat Helmut Schmidt, the cabinet was a coalition between the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). The Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister was Hans-Dietrich Genscher (FDP).
The cabinet faced its first major internal crisis only weeks after taking office, when Development Minister Erhard Eppler resigned in July 1974 following disputes over budget cuts, exposing early tensions within the governing coalition.