Merz announced personnel reshuffles in the government amid the rise in popularity of the far-right
Kyiv • UNN
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented partial personnel changes in the government. The changes come amid a decline in the coalition's rating and growing support for the far-right AfD.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced a cabinet reshuffle, seeking to strengthen his coalition's position ahead of regional elections in which the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) could win the post of head of a federal state for the first time. This was reported by AP, writes UNN.
Details
Merz presented only part of the planned changes, raising questions about further government renewal.
According to AP, the head of the Chancellery, Thorsten Frei, will become the chairman of the parliamentary group of the "Union" bloc after the resignation of the previous head due to a scandal related to his personal conduct.
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The position of head of the Chancellery will be taken by Health Minister Nina Warken. She will become the first woman in this position. The Health Minister is planned to be appointed as the Secretary-General of the Christian Democratic Union, Carsten Linnemann.
The personnel changes follow a clear line. We want a government that works with great energy and pleasure, and also represents the personal diversity of our society and politics. We are a reform government and want to continue demonstrating this
Government popularity is declining
AP notes that Merz took over the government less than 15 months ago, promising to restore economic growth after a long period of stagnation. However, economic recovery is slow, and the coalition of the center-right "Union" bloc and the Social Democratic Party has so far failed to convince voters of its effectiveness.
Against this backdrop, the chancellor's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level, while the far-right AfD continues to gain support among voters.