Merz faces fresh CDU backlash over dismissal of health state secretary Tino Sorge

After the controversial dismissal of Patrick Schnieder, pressure on Friedrich Merz is growing. The farce surrounding the replacement of the Transport Minister "has led to a real rumble in the state associations," reports Leonie von Randow.

The Chancellor's personnel decisions are triggering further waves of frustration: The dismissed Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Health openly criticizes Merz's approach. He hopes it at least follows a "higher logic."

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Hardly an hour passed on Monday without new anger erupting from within the Chancellor's own ranks. Around midday, Friedrich Merz announced another personnel reshuffle after the meetings of the CDU leadership, also revealing that in the Ministry of Health, in addition to the ministerial change, there would also be a change in the post of Parliamentary State Secretary: Health expert Tino Sorge (CDU) will lose his position.

Rather casually, Merz told journalists: "Furthermore, Christiane Schenderlein will take over Tino Sorge's task as the new Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health."

Sorge was not willing to accept this dismissal quietly. About four hours later, he sent out a scathing press release. In seven paragraphs, the CDU politician abandoned all the restraint usually shown in public towards a head of government from one's own party.

Tino Sorge (CDU) — Source: picture alliance/dts-Agentur/dts Nachrichtenagentur GmbH

"It is no secret that I would have gladly continued my work at this central hub of health policy. I take note of the Federal Chancellor's decision," wrote Sorge. "That he announced it – instead of having a personal conversation with me – first in party committees and before the press remains his own question of style."

And Sorge – a member of the Bundestag from Saxony-Anhalt, where elections will be held on September 6 – added: "Given the events of the last few days and on the eve of several state elections, the Federal Chancellor will have made this decision carefully. One can only hope that it follows a higher logic, greater than the sum of individual personnel decisions."

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Looking at the previous collaboration with the now departing Minister Nina Warken (CDU), who is moving to the government headquarters as Minister of State for the Chancellery, Sorge wrote: "With the further development of the hospital reform and the GKV contribution rate stabilization act, we have achieved two landmark reform projects in recent months. That we were able to successfully complete these reforms in a short time was thanks to our good cooperation in the ministry's leadership and the outstanding work of the specialist departments – and equally to the long-standing, trusting exchange among us as policy experts from the parliamentary groups."

The structural securing of health insurance finances and long-term care, the reform of emergency care, strengthening the business location, and digitalization are just some of the upcoming challenges. They brook no delay.

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For this multitude of projects, the employees in the specialist departments of the Ministry of Health are "excellently positioned." They deserve, now and in the future, a ministry leadership that translates their work into solid government action as quickly as possible. "For this, I wish the new Federal Minister of Health, Carsten Linnemann, and his team all the very best and much success."

Claudia Kade