Friedrich Merz vows reset after CDU reshuffle backlash

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised a fresh start and better communication on Wednesday after a cabinet reshuffle sparked anger inside his ruling conservative CDU/CSU bloc.

“We must all reflect together on what we need to do better ... and how we can regain the trust of those who do not trust us today,” Merz said after a lengthy closed-door meeting of the bloc’s lawmakers.

Merz, in power since May 2025, said the meeting would generate “new momentum” and “a renewed effort” to lead Germany. He also said a key focus of his work would be ensuring good communication among the government, lawmakers and the party.

The internal discord has hit Merz while his popularity ratings are low, Germany’s economy is flatlining and the far-right Alternative for Germany is topping polls ahead of key regional elections.

Complaints about Merz’s leadership style grew after recent personnel changes, some of which appeared in media reports before the people affected were told. Markus Soeder, head of the Bavarian CSU, said recent days had been turbulent and that there had been annoyance.

Guenter Krings, deputy leader of the parliamentary group, told Welt TV that some lawmakers expressed frustration during Wednesday’s meeting and that there were critical comments.

The reshuffle followed the resignation this month of CDU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn. Spahn stepped down after it emerged that he and his husband had used a surrogate mother in the United States to have a child, despite surrogacy being illegal in Germany and strongly opposed by the CDU.

CDU lawmakers elected Thorsten Frei, Merz’s chief of staff, as their new leader with 92 percent of the vote.

Merz also faced criticism over the handling of Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder’s dismissal. Merz’s intention to sack Schnieder leaked last week, but Schnieder was left in post after Merz’s first choice to replace him withdrew.

Bild reported that ministry employees gave Schnieder sustained applause as he left, which the newspaper interpreted as a rebuke to Merz.

Frei’s successor as Merz’s chief of staff will be outgoing health minister Nina Warken. CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann will replace Warken as health minister, and Steffen Bilger will become transport minister. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave the three their official nominations, but they will not be sworn in by parliament until after the summer break.

Other senior CDU figures have also criticised Merz’s style. Heiko Strohmann, the CDU leader in Bremen, told the Tagesspiegel newspaper that Merz was “running a political party, not a business”. Tino Sorge, a CDU state secretary in the health department, wrote on Facebook that Merz had dismissed him without speaking to him first and said this raised a question about his leadership style.