Merz names Nina Warken chancellery chief in Cabinet reshuffle

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday unveiled the first stage of his Cabinet reshuffle aimed at making his coalition more effective and boosting its approval ratings. The move follows the resignation of Jens Spahn, the parliamentary group leader of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and the proposed appointment of chancellery chief Thorsten Frei as Spahn’s successor.

Health Minister Nina Warken is set to replace Frei as new chancellery chief, making her the first woman to hold the powerful post. “She is assertive, and she is also well-versed in security policy issues,” Merz said about Warken, adding she will be a key pillar of support in his daily government work.

Carsten Linnemann, the CDU’s secretary general, is set to replace Warken as health minister. Philipp Amthor, state secretary in the digital ministry, is to move to the chancellery to coordinate federal-state relations, replacing Michael Meister. More restructuring moves are to follow.

“There will be further changes in the Federal Cabinet,” Merz announced, stressing he will make decisions carefully without time pressure. According to German media, the transport minister post, currently held by CDU’s Patrick Schnieder, is expected to be affected.

The reshuffle comes before crucial regional elections in the fall, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is expected to perform strongly and could even secure an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt in September. Merz hopes the changes will shore up his low approval ratings and strengthen coalition unity to pass important reforms, such as pensions and healthcare, in the Bundestag this fall.

Lawmakers from Merz’s conservative bloc will vote next Wednesday on Thorsten Frei’s appointment as parliamentary group leader. The new ministers will need formal approval by the Bundestag after the summer recess in September but can begin serving on an interim basis after appointment by the German president.