Merz Confirms Cabinet Reshuffle: Warken to Become Head of Chancellery, Linnemann Health Minister
Chancellor Merz has confirmed that Nina Warken will move to the post of Chancellery Minister. Outgoing CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann will take over the Health Ministry. Further changes are expected to follow.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is using the resignation of parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn to carry out a broader reshuffle of his cabinet. In a press statement on Thursday morning, he confirmed that current Health Minister Nina Warken will succeed Thorsten Frei as head of the Chancellery. The CDU politician thus becomes the first woman to hold this office.
Merz had already announced previously that Frei would take Spahn's place. CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann is set to succeed Warken as Health Minister. In addition, Philipp Amthor, also CDU and currently Parliamentary State Secretary at the Digital Ministry, is to replace Michael Meister as Minister of State for Federal-State Relations at the Chancellery.
Further Changes Announced
Merz simultaneously announced additional steps. "There will be further changes in the federal cabinet," he emphasized, adding that he would provide information "in due course." This would, however, take a few more days and "perhaps more" time. According to information from the ARD capital studio, a personnel change at the Transport Ministry is also possible, with Minister Patrick Schnieder potentially losing his post. Official confirmation of this has yet to be given.
Furthermore, according to several media outlets, CDU Treasurer Franziska Hoppermann is set to succeed Linnemann. Merz has also made no statement on this matter so far.
Further information to follow shortly.
