Merz announces first German Cabinet choices – POLITICO #NewsGerman

Patrick Schniedera veteran transport policymaker, takes over the Ministry of Transport, while Karin Prienwho previously led education policy in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, will run the Ministry for Education. Nina Warkena Bundestag legal specialist, is tapped to lead the Health Ministry.

Merz has also created a new Ministry for Digitalization, choosing physicist and tech executive Karsten Wildberger to push overdue digital reforms in government.

Cultural and media affairs will be steered by Wolfram Weimera well-known journalist and publisher. Christiane Schenderleina Bundestag member with experience in cultural policy, becomes state minister for sport and volunteer engagement.

On European affairs, Merz appointed strong voices from his conservative Christian Democratic Union: Serap Güler joins the Foreign Ministry as state minister for international cooperation, while Gunther Krichbauma veteran on EU policy, takes the role of state minister for European affairs. Berlin’s envoy to the EU, Michael Clausshas been tapped as Merz’s top EU adviser and is expected to start the new role in Berlin next week.

Finally, Thorsten Frei — a key Merz ally and former CDU/CSU parliamentary manager — will become head of the Chancellery, a powerful role akin to a chief of staff. Frei will be responsible for coordinating government operations and ensuring Cabinet discipline, a critical post as Merz seeks to push through his ambitious domestic and security agenda.

The CDU’s conservative Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), is set to head three ministries. Alexander Dobrindtwho led the CSU state group in parliament and was one of the key negotiators in coalition talks, will become the country’s next interior minister.