Merz faces criticism within CDU over planned departure of…

Merz faces criticism within CDU over planned departure of Schnieder

25.07.2026 16:01 HotInfo 14

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces growing criticism within his own CDU over the apparently planned dismissal of party colleague Patrick Schnieder from the post of federal minister of transport. Information from political and coalition circles suggested that Schnieder is set to lose his position as part of a cabinet reshuffle, but the decision has turned into a personnel complication without a clearly announced successor. Die Zeit ↗

The course of the entire swap also caused tension. According to published information, Schnieder's departure was already considered a done deal, but the resolution then got stuck when the presumed replacement ultimately did not take up the post. CDU financial policy expert Fritz Güntzler was mentioned as a possible candidate for the transport portfolio, but the position remained unfilled. Die Zeit ↗

Criticism also came from former head of the Chancellery Peter Altmaier, who sharply attacked the way Schnieder is being treated. Discontent is also being voiced from within the CDU's regional ranks, especially from the transport minister's home region, where the leadership's approach has caused considerable outrage. There have also been complaints that the federal government should not be run in a manner reminiscent of a feudal kingdom. Spiegel.de ↗

Merz's allies have tried to play down the situation. Thorsten Frei, who is set to take over leadership of the Union's parliamentary group, described the problems in the cabinet reshuffle as bad luck. However, the personnel reshuffling represents an additional political burden for the chancellor, and its outcome will depend on whether he manages to quickly settle the question of who will lead the transport ministry. Tagesspiegel ↗

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