Germany: Friedrich Merz announces Cabinet reshuffle
Friedrich Merz has announced a Cabinet reshuffle that was triggered by the resignation of conservative heavyweight Jens Spahn over a surrogacy controversy. German Chancellor Friedrich
Friedrich Merz has announced a Cabinet reshuffle that was triggered by the resignation of conservative heavyweight Jens Spahn over a surrogacy controversy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Friday morning. Carsten Linnemann, who until now served as secretary of Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union, will replace Nina Warken as health minister. Meanwhile, Warken will become the chancellor's new chief of staff. Philipp Amthor was also present at the press conference as Merz's new state minister — the minister responsible for managing the federal government's relations with Germany's 16 states.
Amthor's appointment had been previously reported by business newspaper Handelsblatt. Merz said he would announce further changes to the cabinet in the near future. Those decisions would take "a few days yet, and perhaps more time," he said. German tabloid Bild separately reported that Fritz Guentzler would replace Patrick Schnieder as transport minister, although Merz did not comment on this portfolio in his press conference on Friday morning. Resignation prompts reshuffle Friday's announcement comes after the CDU's parliamenty leader, Jens Spahn, resigned over a surragacy controversy last weekend.
Spahn had announced that he became a parent with the help of a surrogate mother in the United States. He was accused of hypocracy because surrogacy is banned in Germany and the CDU has repeatedly voted to support this ban. Merz appointed Thorsten Frei to fill the position on Wednesday, and used this opportunity to make further changes on Friday. The chancellor's popularity has sunk to rock-bottom levels while Europe's biggest economy continues to face years of stagnation.
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