# Bavarian cabinet reshuffle following Justice Minister's exit

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bavarian-cabinet-reshuffle-following-justice-ministers-exit
> Updated: 2026-09-20T19:01:43.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

Georg Eisenreich, the Bavarian Minister of Justice, announced his intention to resign from his post due to personal considerations and a desire for new professional challenges. While Eisenreich plans to remain in the Bavarian State Parliament until the 2028 legislative period, his tenure was notably impacted by a scandal involving allegations of prisoner abuse at the Augsburg-Gablingen correctional facility.

In response to the resignation, Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder announced a cabinet reshuffle. Josef Schmid, a CSU member and Munich-based lawyer, has been appointed as the new Justice Minister. The reshuffle also includes the creation of a State Minister for Youth and Democracy, to be held by Manuel Knoll, the 36-year-old leader of the Junge Union in Bavaria, in an effort to better engage younger voters and counter political shifts toward the extremes. While the Young Free Voters have welcomed the inclusion of a youth representative, they have also criticized the move as a “political calculation to counter the success of rival parties.”

Additionally, the reshuffle involves the departure of European Minister Eric Beißwenger, whose responsibilities will be absorbed by Florian Herrmann, the Chief of the State Chancellery. Söder also indicated plans to appoint a representative for Brussels to increase the state’s influence within the European Union.

## Claims

- Georg Eisenreich is resigning from his position as Justice Minister in late September. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Georg Eisenreich has made a private decision to leave politics, which Markus Söder regrets. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Josef Schmid will succeed Georg Eisenreich as the new Justice Minister. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Manuel Knoll, head of the Junge Union Bayern, is appointed as the new State Minister for Youth and Democracy. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The role of State Minister for Youth and Democracy is a newly created position. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Eric Beißwenger is leaving his post as European Minister. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Florian Herrmann will take over the duties of the European Minister in addition to his role as Head of the State Chancellery. (single source)
- Georg Eisenreich intends to serve his parliamentary mandate until the next state election in 2028. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-20: Markus Söder announces Bavarian cabinet reshuffle

Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder is reshuffling his cabinet, appointing Josef Schmid as Justice Minister and creating a new State Minister for Youth and Democracy role for Manuel Knoll.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/markus-sder-announces-bavarian-cabinet-reshuffle

### 2026-09-17: Georg Eisenreich resigns as Bavarian Minister of Justice

Bavarian Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich has announced his voluntary resignation to pursue new professional opportunities, also planning to leave the state parliament and his CSU chairmanship.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/georg-eisenreich-resigns-as-bavarian-minister-of-justice

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Cite as: Bavarian cabinet reshuffle following Justice Minister's exit. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bavarian-cabinet-reshuffle-following-justice-ministers-exit