BERLIN (AP) 鈥� German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reshuffled top posts on Friday as he tries to boost the fortunes of his deeply unpopular government ahead of regional elections in which a far-right party could get its first state governor.
Merz’s presentation of an incomplete set of changes, however, raised questions and risked undermining his effort to generate new momentum.
Merz less than 15 months ago with pledges to reform and turn around Germany鈥檚 economy, Europe鈥檚 biggest, after years of stagnation. But that economic turnaround has been slow to start. And the middle-of-the-road coalition of Merz鈥檚 center-right Union bloc and the center-left Social Democrats, two traditional rivals, has yet to persuade voters that it can produce results.
That has resulted in Merz鈥檚 popularity sinking to rock-bottom levels, while the far-right , or AfD, has gained support on the back of widespread discontent.
Merz tries to seize an opportunity
Merz took the opportunity to make a series of changes after a senior ally quit as the leader of his bloc’s parliamentary group over personal conduct that undermined his credibility. Merz plans to put his chief of staff, Thorsten Frei, in that job.
The German leader said Health Minister Nina Warken will take Frei鈥檚 place at the chancellery, a post that is key to the smooth functioning of the government. She will be the first woman to take that job. Another close ally, Carsten Linnemann, the general secretary of Merz鈥檚 Christian Democratic Union party, will become health minister.
Merz said there will be further Cabinet changes, but didn鈥檛 offer details. He said those decisions will take 鈥渁 few days yet, and perhaps more time.鈥�
鈥淭he personnel changes follow a clear line,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e want a government that works with great vigor and pleasure and also represents the personal diversity of our society and politics. We are a reform government and want to continue showing that.鈥�
Difficult regional elections are ahead
The governing parties face three difficult regional elections in September. In the eastern region of Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, AfD is hopeful of winning a majority that would give it control of a state government for the first time.
After months in which voters were turned off by squabbling in the coalition, Merz鈥檚 government recently embarked on big plans for 鈥� including a proposed reform of the creaking pension system that would include raising the retirement age gradually, for low- and middle-income earners and an effort to slash red tape.
鈥淭he government has found its rhythm, despite some criticism,鈥� Merz declared last week. 鈥淲e have delivered, and we have recognized the dimension of the tasks we face.鈥�
Ally quit over surrogacy
Only days later, though, he faced a new distraction. Jens Spahn quit as leader of the Union鈥檚 parliamentary group 鈥� one of the most powerful positions in the coalition 鈥� after it emerged that he and his husband had used the services of a surrogate mother in the U.S. to have a baby.
Surrogacy isn鈥檛 allowed in Germany. Merz鈥檚 party opposes allowing it, a position that it reaffirmed at a convention in February, and Spahn himself had spoken out against it in the past. That prompted accusations of double standards.
Frei will now take Spahn鈥檚 job, a position he鈥檚 widely considered better suited to than coordinating the chancellery. Frei was the Union鈥檚 parliamentary chief whip under Merz when the center-right was in opposition.
Warken takes his place at the chancellery after shepherding the first of the government鈥檚 reforms, meant to curb rising costs in the German health insurance system, through parliament earlier this month.
Merz said she has showed that 鈥渟he can push through reforms against resistance,” praised her as a tough negotiator and said that 鈥渟he is also at home with the security policy issues鈥� that are important at the chancellery.
Linnemann, a conservative who lacks government experience, will take her place at the Health Ministry. Merz said that 鈥渨e must maintain the course of reform鈥� in health policy and that requires a 鈥渟teadfast鈥� minister.
Merz took no questions and didn’t mention multiple German media reports that he also plans to replace Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder. That issue remained open Friday afternoon amid reports that a candidate had first accepted the job, then changed his mind, and the uncertainty drew negative headlines.
Merz鈥檚 coalition last year to underpin an effort to upgrade , but frustration remains 鈥� for example with the unreliability of the .
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel argued that Merz had caused 鈥測et more chaos鈥� with his reshuffle and said in a post on X that the government being preoccupied with itself doesn’t do justice to Germany’s 鈥渕any-faceted鈥� problems.
鈥淕ermany needs new elections,鈥� she wrote. The next national election isn’t due until early 2029.
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