Friedrich Merz Reshuffles Cabinet After Jens Spahn Resigns

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reshuffled top government posts on July 24, 2026, to stabilize an unpopular coalition and generate momentum before September regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The changes were triggered by the resignation of Jens Spahn, leader of the Union's parliamentary group, after it emerged he used a surrogate mother in the United States. This practice is illegal in Germany and opposed by Merz's party; notably, Spahn had previously upheld the ban while serving as health minister.

To fill the vacancies, Merz appointed his chief of staff, Thorsten Frei, as the new parliamentary party head. Nina Warken, the former health minister, becomes the first woman to serve as chief of staff at the chancellery, while CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann takes over the health portfolio. Merz indicated further changes are coming, with reports suggesting Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder may be replaced due to infrastructure and national rail network failures.

The reshuffle comes as Merz faces record-low approval ratings and a decline in CDU polling, which currently trails the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). AfD co-leader Alice Weidel dismissed the cabinet changes as "navel-gazing" and an addition to the government's "chaos," calling for fresh national elections. The AfD currently leads national polls and hopes to win a majority in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6.