The German Chancellor announced several personnel changes for key positions in the federal government on Friday, after the conservatives’ parliamentary group leader stepped down this week.
As Jens Spahn steps down from his post as parliamentary group leader of the conservative Christian Union parties (CDU/CSU), Chancellor Friedrich Merz is taking the opportunity for a major restructuring of his government and also the CDU party leadership.
Spahn resigned as the chairman of the CDU/CSU alliance last week after it emerged he and his husband had had a child via a surrogate in the United States, despite surrogacy being illegal in Germany and vehemently opposed by the CDU.
Merz announced a number of personnel changes on Friday morning at the Chancellery in Berlin.
The major swaps that are known so far include:
- Chancellery chief Thorsten Frei should take Jens Spahn’s place as CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader.
- Health Minister Nina Warken is to take Frei’s former position as head of the Chancellery.
- CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann is to Health Minister.
- Philipp Amthor is to replace Michael Meister as Minister of State for Federal-State Cooperation in the Chancellery.
According to government circles, the appointment of the federal ministers is set to take place next Wednesday, with their swearing-in planned for the first week of the Bundestag’s session in September.
Merz suggests that a further reshuffling of his cabinet can be expected.
“There will be further changes in the federal cabinet. I will inform you about this in due course,” he said on Friday, adding that decisions should be made “without time pressure and with necessary care.”
Merz’s embattled government
Hints that the federal cabinet could expect a major shuffle had started as early as Sunday.
Speaking about Jens Spahn’s looming departure, Merz had said in an interview with ZDF: “It could be an opportunity to think again about the line-up of the federal government.”
Now more than a year into his role as German Chancellor, Merz faces ultra low approval ratings.
His conservative party has taken a significant hit as well. Since he came to power on bold promises to jump-start the German economy, the CDU has slowly but steadily lost voters while the far-right Alternative for Germany has gained.
An ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll from May found that only 13 percent of voters were satisfied with Merz’s government. This was the lowest approval rating for a federal coalition government in Germany ever.
Given voters’ sour review of the cabinet’s performance so far, Merz had good reason to try and push for a reset. The question now is: will a shuffling of names be enough to change voters’ minds?
With reporting by DPA.
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