Friedrich Merz (CDU) is reshuffling the government at the ministerial and state secretary level. According to the FAZ, the Ministry of Economics is being further weakened. With the latest personnel decisions, Merz is taking a gamble with an uncertain outcome.
Carsten Linnemann is slated to become the new health minister. A year ago, he himself considered himself unsuitable for this post, the FAZ writes, citing his assessment at the time. The new parliamentary state secretary Christiane Schenderlein was most recently active in sports policy – in the FAZ’s view, not ideal prerequisites for pushing through cost reductions in healthcare and nursing care.
Gitta Connemann is moving as parliamentary state secretary from the Economics Ministry to the Digital Ministry. She was valued in the business community as an engaged listener, while Minister Katherina Reiche’s focus is primarily on energy policy. Connemann is taking her office as SME commissioner with her to the Digital Ministry – a remarkable step that further devalues the already weakened Economics Ministry.
Steffen Bilger is becoming transport minister on his second attempt. He knows the subject matter, as the FAZ emphasizes. Merz expects him to ensure that the billions in debt in the special fund for infrastructure “justify themselves.” The question of why Merz did not ask Bilger in the first place remains open.
The reshuffle is not yet complete. Discontent is growing in the CDU state group of Rhineland-Palatinate, the FAZ reports. Merz has high expectations for the new team – whether Germany will be governed better with this personnel lineup is questionable.
Source: www.faz.net
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