Sabotage Ministers: The Newbies in the Federal Government
- Scribes: Lisa Becke, Julius Betschka, Nico Fried, Veit Medick, Rolf-Herbert Peters, Jan Rosenkranz, Falk Steiner, and Clara Suchy
- Length: ~ 12 minutes
Friedrich Merz parades the new ministers of the CDU, while the CSU is also in the game. There's a twist: A businesswoman will become the Digital Minister, and a trained butcher will head up the future agricultural department - things are getting interesting. The SPD's ministerial team is yet to be announced - we'll have to wait a week for that. In the meantime, let's take a glance at the Union people slidingside:
Interior: Christian Reiche
New cabinet appointments by Merz: Sausage record holders, generalists, head of Saturn corporation - Newly-appointed minister, sausage expert with a record, brings outside expertise, takes on Saturn role
Reiche, a native of Brandenburg's Luckenwalde, probably got the gig due to her Eastern Bloc background. Insiders describe her as meticulous and structured, not one to shy away from responsibilities. Business folks believe she can make the green transition well-organized, smooth, and practical as promised in the coalition deal. However, her eco-friendly stance might rub some conservative Union members the wrong way. Opinion: Dig deeper into the motivation behind her selection.
Foreign Affairs: Johann Wadephul
Neither Armin Laschet nor David McAllister will claim the Foreign Office, but Johann Wadephul. The 62-year-old from Schleswig-Holstein will became the first CDU foreign minister in almost 60 years.
As an expert in foreign and security policy, Wadephul's name has been in circulation for weeks. He vows to bring peace to the Foreign Office, Industry, and Chancellery, a first in the German political landscape.
So, what's new here? Well, the course in Ukraine policy will remain the same, but he's intent on reaching out to the obstinate Hungarian Viktor Orbán. Wadephul has already met with some of his new colleagues (UK, Italy) and attended the funeral of the Pope in Rome. But he too will soon feel the pressure that previous officeholders had to endure: foreign policy is increasingly dictated by the Chancellery, not the Foreign Office.
A slip-up like the one in February shouldn't happen again: Wadephul was fooled by a prank call from two Russian comedians posing as Ukraine's President Zelensky and chatted for 20 minutes, even about possible Taurus deliveries.
Chief of Staff: Thorsten Frei
Merz assigns his bodyguard Thorsten Frei as chief of the Chancellery. The 51-year-old from Baden-Württemberg will be the top gun of the new government. Frei is the previous manager of the Union faction and led the coalition talks for Merz. His abilities as a negotiator and organizer paid off during the talks, impressing not only his party but also the SPD. As chief of staff, he needs to anticipate and moderate conflicts ahead of time - here's where his work matters: whether the government runs smoothly or the traffic light controversy continues.
Politically, Frei belongs to the conservative wing of the party, advocating hard policies on immigration. At the same time, he is considered compromise-ready and very loyal to Merz. In return, the party leader informs him, along with a few others, about his plans. In the CDU, it's often said these days that Merz needs Thorsten Frei three times. This is also because the soon-to-be-federal chancellor lacks a dedicated team otherwise. Since Merz expands the Chancellery's competencies, including security and European policy, the job as head of the office becomes even more crucial. Moreover, Frei has a higher public profile than his predecessor, Wolfgang Schmidt (SPD). The Frei formula: If he performs well, so does the government. The pressure couldn't be higher.
Recent Jewelry Trend: Karin Prien has started wearing a Star of David necklace. Wearing the Jewish symbol has become a statement against hate and fear for her, as she told the Stern. This is new territory for Prien, who only disclosed her Jewish identity in 2016. Both of her grandfathers were Jews fleeing from the Nazis. Born in the Netherlands, Prien moved to Neuwied with her family at a young age and later graduated from high school there. Before entering politics, she worked as a lawyer specializing in corporate law. She is married and has three children.
Criticism Before It Starts: As the new Minister of Education in Schleswig-Holstein, Prien faces sharp attacks, even before she officially takes office. Critics, such as Martin Habersaat, the education expert of the opposition SPD state parliament faction in Schleswig-Holstein, deem her performance as having a "D-" grade, saying "Schleswig-Holstein has been on a downward spiral in all areas in recent years."
Health: Nina Warken
A Patchwork in the Health Ministry: While the previous minister, medical professional Karl Lauterbach, was deep in the medical details, Warken is a layman: She has mainly focused on internal politics, having served as a MP for the CDU and chairwoman of the NSU inquiry committee. With a popular vote of 43% in the federal election, she remains well-liked in her Baden-Württemberg district of Odenwald-Tauber.
So what now? It'll be crucial for her to quickly familiarize herself with the new field. She'll have two experienced Politicians by her side: the previous health policy spokesman Tino Sorge, also considered for the ministerial post, and the former chairman of the Union faction in the health committee, Georg Kippels.
Transport and Infrastructure: Patrick Schnieder
Secrets Hidden: The surprise pick for the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry is likely to be Patrick Schnieder. Many thought Ina Scharrenbach of North Rhine-Westphalia would be the favorite. The tall lawyer from Rhineland-Palatinate was previously one of the parliamentary managers of the Union faction and is known for her diligence and faithfulness. She's also a longtime member of the transport committee.
Schnieder steps into a challenging ministry: The German railway will keep causing problems for the foreseeable future, and the German automotive industry may face an existential crisis. There are also numerous crumbling bridges and roads in Germany. But he'll at least have plenty of money to spend: The 500 billion euro infrastructure fund secured by CDU/CSU and SPD will be used to make repairs.
Being Less Talkative: Unlike his predecessor, Volker Wissing (formerly FDP), he doesn't have to appear on television talk shows - a major advantage in dealing with bad press.
Digitalization: Karsten Wildberger
The New Manager: As a manager, Wildberger excels at getting things done. Since taking over Media-Markt-Saturn in 2021, the electronics retailer has experienced steady growth.
From Economics to Politics: At the same time, Wildberger has been involved in the Economic Council of the CDU for eight years - especially in Merz's home state of North Rhine-Westphalia. And Merz might have trusted his judgment in digitalization. Will it translate from the corporate world to politics? Stay tuned.**
Agriculture: Alois Rainer
The Butcher's Union: When Alois Rainer celebrated his 60th birthday in January, Markus Söder made a surprise visit. This alone speaks volumes about Rainer's importance within the CSU. The party leader now gifts him with a special present, albeit tardy: Rainer, who has been elected to the Bundestag for Straubing for 11 years, will become Federal Minister of Agriculture. His appointment is a surprise, as it was widely expected that the Bavarian Minister of Agriculture, Michaela Kaniber, would assume the corresponding role in Berlin.**
Family Roots Run Deep: Rainer hails from a political family. His father also served in the Bundestag for the CSU, and his older sister, Gerda Hasselfeldt, was Federal Minister of Housing under Helmut Kohl and CSU parliamentary group leader under Angela Merkel. With the appointment of his brother, the Rainer family now boasts the first siblings elected to the federal government.**
Working the Land: As a CSU member of Parliament (MP), Rainer has yet to make a significant impact in the agricultural sector. Yet, he has shown a keen interest in nature, continuing to run the family-owned forest and enjoying lengthy walks with his dog.
Research: Dorothee Bär
A Jigsaw Puzzle: Bär, a native of Franconia, is known as a tough cookie to peg. She's a passionate fan of FC Bayern, even serving on the supervisory board alongside SPD Chief Lars Klingbeil. Since 2002, Dorothee Bär, often called "Doro" by friends and the media, has been in the Bundestag, juggling motherhood and a busy political life. However, Bär takes firm stances on social issues, opposing the law on self-determination of gender and the abolition of paragraph 218 on abortion. In spring 2023, Bär caused a stir by visiting Florida with her CSU colleagues Florian Hahn and Andreas Scheuer to meet with ultra-conservative Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Rise to the Top: Now, at 47, Dorothee Bär is poised to become the Federal Minister for Research and Space - a position Bavaria may have sought due to potential funding for the Bavarian high-tech hub. A graduate in political science, she's been a key player in the CSU but has had to remain in second place behind a man each time: in 2009, she was deputy CSU general secretary behind Markus Söder, with little influence due to Söder's broad shoulders. In 2013, she was parliamentary state secretary in the transport ministry under department head Alexander Dobrindt, where she updated the old CSU motto of "laptop and Lederhosen" to "fly taxis and dirndls". In 2021, she became deputy party chair again, behind Söder.**
Analytical and Resolute: In her parliamentary work, she's addressed issues such as family, women, seniors, as well as culture and media. However, her stint as state minister in the chancellery and commissioner for digital affairs under Angela Merkel had less impact.**
State Minister for Culture: Wolfram Weimer
Conflicting Reactions: Some in the arts scene couldn't believe it when they heard Weimer's name: He is to become State Minister for Culture and Media? With the conservative publisher, Merz brings into the chancellery a man who until now uninterested in art or culture.
The Tough Talker: Despite his reputation for painful theses, Weimer isn't an ideologue. And being business-oriented in the heavily subsidized cultural sector couldn't hurt. Put another way: What exactly remains of Claudia Roth, the last Minister of Culture?
Close Connections: It's a questionable mix of personal and professional interests, but having someone in the Chancellery whom one trusts might prove helpful in these tumultuous times.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Such a directive would likely be focused on modernizing and strengthening existing safety measures and regulations.
- The failure to address this issue in the past, as exhibited by the 'gescheitertes' 36563836d291f71e048e486f89f3b107, has been a significant concern for health-and-wellness advocates.
- Minister Martin, a key player in the science and health-and-wellness sector, has expressed his support for the implementation of such a directive.
- The Finance and Business industries, as well as the Education-and-self-development sector, may also be impacted by these proposed regulations, as they often employ individuals who work with ionizing radiation.
- The general-news media will likely closely follow the progress of this proposal as it makes its way through the legislative process, looking for signs of how it may affect various industries and society at large.
- Political analysts have suggested that supporting this directive could be an opportunity for politicians to demonstrate their commitment to the safety and well-being of workers in the face of growing concerns about job security and employee rights.
