In most EU countries: Yes. They are elected members of the Parliament who are assigned a portfolio by the prime minister. To be clear: someone elected them, in

In most EU countries: Yes. They are elected members of the Parliament who are assigned a portfolio by the prime minister. To be clear: someone elected them, in the example of Ireland a jurisdiction like Kerry would elect a number of parliament members and the prime minister could select any elected members from their party to form the cabinet.