Merz reshuffles cabinet: Connemann moves to Digital Ministry, Steiniger becomes State Secretary at Economics Ministry

SME Commissioner Gitta Connemann moves from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to the Ministry of Digital Affairs. She will be succeeded by Johannes Steiniger from Speyer.

Published: 28 July 2026, 16:54

By Anja Krüger

Friedrich Merz's government reshuffle following the departure of Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn has consequences for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, led by Katherina Reiche (CDU): SME Commissioner Gitta Connemann is moving to the Ministry of Digital Affairs, replacing Philipp Amthor, who will become Federal-State Coordinator in the Chancellery. The new State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs will be Bundestag member Johannes Steiniger.

The 39-year-old will be responsible for industry sectors excluding raw materials, defense economics, and future technologies. In terms of expertise, he would be a better fit for the Ministry of Agriculture. Until now, the high school teacher has been the agricultural policy spokesperson for the Union parliamentary group. Recently, with regard to the tense situation in the wine industry, he advocated against increasing the sparkling wine tax. Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) has proposed the increase.

With Steiniger's appointment, Merz aims to pacify the anger caused by the replacement of Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder within the Rhineland-Palatinate CDU. Schnieder comes from this state association. Steiniger has been Secretary General of the CDU in Rhineland-Palatinate since 2024.

"For the CDU state association, it was undisputed that Rhineland-Palatinate must continue to be strongly represented in the coalition following the current personnel changes," said Gordon Schnieder, Minister President in Mainz and brother of the dismissed Federal Transport Minister, regarding Steiniger's appointment. "I personally pushed for this in recent days."

The new man in Reiche's ministry apparently sees himself as a bridgehead for his state. "The central task of the federal government is to generate growth again," Steiniger stated. He wants to contribute to this. "In my new role at the interface between parliament and ministry, I can now decisively help shape this mission. Rhineland-Palatinate in particular stands for a strong economy with a robust SME sector and large industrial companies," he explained. "I will gladly bring this perspective into federal politics."

Greens See Reiche Weakened

Gitta Connemann will take her role as SME Commissioner with her to the Ministry of Digital Affairs. The 62-year-old has been Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs since 2025. The lawyer chairs the SME and Economic Union, the business-friendly wing of the CDU.

The Greens view the move as a weakening of Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Reiche. "The fact that Gitta Connemann is moving to the Ministry of Digital Affairs while remaining SME Commissioner, thereby stripping Katherina Reiche of responsibility for SMEs, shows: Friedrich Merz apparently no longer trusts his Minister of Economic Affairs with this central area," said Green Bundestag member Alaa Alhamwi. A mere reshuffling of positions in the cabinet will not conceal Merz's previously weak government performance. "Personnel changes are no substitute for political strategy."

The Left Party accuses the Chancellor of weak leadership in light of the personnel decisions. "If anyone in the cabinet was particularly in the crosshairs due to poor performance, it was Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche," said Jörg Cezanne, energy policy spokesperson for the Left Party parliamentary group in the Bundestag. "Merz should have relieved Reiche of her post."

With his "simply disgraceful treatment" of the outgoing Transport Minister, Merz sparked discontent that is now meant to be appeased by Steiniger's appointment. "If Federal Chancellor Merz were a school principal, the school supervisory authority should remove him from office."