German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, making changes to at least three ministerial posts ahead of upcoming state elections in Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, as opinion polls show declining support for his government and rising backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany party.
The reshuffle was triggered by the resignation of Jens Spahn from the Union’s parliamentary leadership last week after he and his husband announced they had become parents through a surrogate mother in the United States, a practice banned in Germany and opposed by the CDU.
Carsten Linnemann, who had been serving as CDU general secretary, will take over as health minister from Nina Warken. Warken will move to lead the chancellery, succeeding Thorsten Frei, who is taking over Spahn’s former role as head of the Union’s parliamentary group.
Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder is also expected to leave, with Bundestag member Fritz Güntzler being considered as his replacement.
Merz is expected to present full details of the reshuffle on Friday. Further personnel changes are anticipated.
