September 30, 2009: On September 27, 2009 Germans elected a new government, but not a new chancellor. Current chancellor Angela Merkel will remain in office as her party, the Christian Democractic Union (CDU), along with its sister party, the Bavarian Christian Socialist Union (CSU) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) won a majority of seats in Sunday's election. The FDP had campaigned on the premise that it would only be available for a coalition with the CDU/CSU. The strategy worked, with the FDP garnering 14 percent of the popular vote, giving it 94 seats in the new Bundestag – more seats than the CSU won.

In German politics it is postwar tradition that the party leader (or someone designated by the party) of the junior coalition party is rewarded with the cabinet post of foreign minister. FDP chairman Guido Westerwelle has long been viewed as a likely candidate to become Germany's next foreign minister. Sunday's election confirmed those expectations. In recent months Westerwelle has talked about the possibility of him being foreign minister, including his support for the gay rights movement.

At a press conference in Berlin the day after the election, German and foreign reporters – along with the German people themselves – witnessed an assertiveness in Westerwelle uncharacteristic of Germany's past foreign ministers. A British journalist asked Westerwelle to respond to his question in English. Westerwelle refused to do so, saying that in Germany German is the language spoken. He added that he would be happy to talk to the journalist in English over a cup of tea after the press conference, but during the press conference he would answer questions only in German.

The exchange between Westerwelle and the British journalist was immediately a popular sound clip on German radio stations. Some wondered whether his English is good enough to have answered the journalist's question in the first place. A link to a Youtube video surfaced, showing that Westerwelle does speak English well enough for conversation, even though he reverted to German for one sentence in the middle of the video clip. Westerwelle would present his country's official position in any serious negotiations in German anyway, so the concerns about his level of English proficiency are irrelevant.

When he was asked later about his response to the British journalist, Westerwelle insisted that he meant no offense. His explanation was supported by the recording of his response, since his tone of voice was polite but firm. He added that he had received over 4000 emails from Germans complimenting him on his position in contrast to only a handful of critical comments.

Westerwelle's natural assertiveness regarding his own language reflects the mindset of a number of Germans, including those born after World War II. After all, the British foreign secretary would hardly be expected to answer a German journalist's question in German at a press conference held in London. For years many Germans have felt that their language has not enjoyed its proper place within the European Union. After all, German is the most widely spoken first language within the EU. After English, German is also the second most widely spoken acquired (second) language within the European Union.