German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder Dismissed Amid Deutsche Bahn Profit Timing Allegations

Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder was removed from office on 29 July after he had asked for his dismissal on 26 July. The move came a day after Deutsche Bahn announced a profit of €147 million in the first half of the year – the first surplus in seven years. Ulrich Jörges, commenting on Welt TV, accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s office of a deliberate timing trick, calling it a "Schweinerei" (scandal). He suggested the profit news was released only after Schnieder’s exit to protect the chancellery.

Steffen Bilger succeeded Schnieder as transport minister. No official reason for the dismissal has been given, though speculation points to unmet expectations and financial issues within the ministry.