German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Faces Cabinet Shake‑up Amid Record Low Approval

Friedrich Merz cabinet reshuffle approval rating 18% AfD poll lead Steffen Bilger transport minister

Federal President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier handed out appointment and dismissal certificates for a reshuffled cabinet. New ministers include Thorsten Frei as head of the chancellor’s office, Carsten Linnemann as health minister, and Steffen Bilger as transport minister, replacing Patrick Schnieder.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approval rating has fallen to 18 %, the lowest for a sitting German chancellor since polling began in 1998. The drop follows the resignation of Jens Spahn after it emerged he used a surrogate mother in the United States, a practice prohibited in Germany. Merz responded by reorganising the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, appointing Thorsten Frei as its leader.

Polls show the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading at 27 % while the ruling coalition stands at about 33 %, with the CDU/CSU at 21 % and the SPD at 12 %. On 13 July Merz inaugurated the Adenauer School of Government at the University of Cologne, presenting it as a training ground for future leaders.

Entities: Carsten Linnemann · Frank‑Walter Steinmeier · Friedrich Merz · Nina Warken · Steffen Bilger · Thorsten Frei

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Multiple CDU state branches and party officials publicly attacked Merz, describing his leadership as self‑authoritarian and questioning his credibility. (article 2)
[● 2 SOURCES] Friedrich Merz’s approval rating is 18 % with 78 % of respondents dissatisfied. (multiple articles)
[● 2 SOURCES] President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier handed out appointment and dismissal certificates for the new ministers. (multiple articles)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Steinmeier criticized that the newly appointed ministers will be sworn in only in early September, after the Bundestag reconvenes. (article 1)
[● 3 SOURCES] Thorsten Frei replaced Jens Spahn as parliamentary group leader of the CDU/CSU. (existing)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The 18 % approval rating is the lowest for a German chancellor since polling began in 1998. (article 0)
[○ 1 SOURCE] In a hypothetical Sunday election, the ruling coalition would receive about 21 % of the vote, while the AfD would lead with 27 %. (article 0)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Jens Spahn resigned after having a child via a surrogate mother in the United States, a practice prohibited in Germany. (existing)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Carsten Linnemann became health minister, replacing Nina Warken who moved to the Chancellor’s Office. (article)
[○ 1 SOURCE] SPD poll rating fell to 12 % in the latest survey. (article)
[● 3 SOURCES] Steffen Bilger was appointed transport minister, succeeding Patrick Schnieder. (existing)
[● 3 SOURCES] Friedrich Merz inaugurated the Adenauer School of Government at the University of Cologne on 13 July. (existing)