German Transport Minister to Resign

German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder announced on Friday he will ask Chancellor Friedrich Merz to relieve him of his duties. German media had speculated about the departure of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician for several days, with reports suggesting Merz was unhappy with his performance.

Schnieder sent a text message to members of the Bundestag on Friday morning, informing them that Merz had told him on Thursday he would be removed from the government. In a statement to DPA on Sunday, Schnieder said his departure "aims to end an undignified situation that prevents necessary substantive work."

Speculation about Schnieder's successor had focused on Fritz Güntzler, a CDU finance expert in the Bundestag. Güntzler initially agreed to become minister but later declined, questioning his suitability for the role given his expertise. Steffen Bilger, a long-time member of the parliamentary transport committee and a former high-ranking official at the transport ministry, is now considered the most likely candidate to take over the ministry.

These changes follow other government shifts announced by Merz on Friday. These were triggered by the resignation of Jens Spahn, a prominent CDU politician, as head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Spahn faced criticism for using a surrogate mother in the United States, where surrogacy is illegal in Germany.

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he wants to end an undignified situation that prevents necessary substantive work.