Merz admits mistakes in personnel changes; Frei elected parliamentary group leader with 91.9%

Federal President Steinmeier has appointed the new ministers for the departments of Transport and Health as well as the Chancellery. He presented the corresponding certificates in Berlin to CDU politicians Steffen Bilger, Carsten Linnemann, and Nina Warken.

Thorsten Frei has been elected head of the Union parliamentary group. Carsten Linnemann receives a bizarre gift from his predecessor. Chancellor Merz comments on the events after the discussion in the parliamentary group. More in the live ticker.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has used the resignation of Jens Spahn from the Union parliamentary group leadership as an opportunity to comprehensively restructure the federal government and the CDU leadership. However, the personnel reshuffle is chaotic – and there continues to be major criticism of Merz's approach.

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5:24 PM – Wednesday, July 29

"This autumn will be very challenging for us"

Merz steps before the microphones and first addresses the new Union parliamentary group leader: "Thorsten Frei was elected with a great, impressive result."

He thanked Spahn again on behalf of the entire Bundestag parliamentary group during the meeting. "It was a demanding task, it was strenuous work, but it was successful work," that the parliamentary group mastered together.

Regarding the discussion itself, Merz says: "We had a really good, fair, and very respectful discussion in the Bundestag parliamentary group." 15 colleagues spoke up. And further: "This autumn will be very challenging for us. We will have to prepare for it."

Friedrich Merz and Thorsten Frei Source: REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

5:12 PM – Wednesday, July 29

"Merz admitted mistakes. Frustration at the grassroots is still enormous"

The discussion in the Union parliamentary group is over. It lasted significantly longer than planned. Matthias Middelberg comments afterwards on WELT TV:

• "It was an honest, critical, and therefore really good discussion. But there were also some truly very critical statements."
• The personnel changes were particularly addressed. "The Chancellor addressed that. He also admitted mistakes in how they dealt with each other. That was very well received by those present."
• The debate in the Union meeting made a good contribution to calming tempers, the deputy parliamentary group leader continued on WELT TV. "But not everything has been cleared up yet. Frustration at the grassroots is still enormous. We will have to make an effort."

4:45 PM – Wednesday, July 29

Linnemann receives bizarre gift from Warken

New Health Minister Linnemann took office in Berlin this afternoon. During the handover ceremony at the Ministry of Health, he received a tool kit as a gift from his predecessor Nina Warken, as a hint at the many upcoming tasks on the "permanent construction site of the healthcare system."

"I believe I can handle it," Linnemann said in a brief speech.

3:31 PM – Wednesday, July 29

Upcoming: Press statement from Merz and Söder

After the parliamentary group meeting, Merz and Söder will soon appear before the press. The new parliamentary group leader Frei and CSU regional group leader Hoffmann will also be present.

3:03 PM – Wednesday, July 29

Thorsten Frei is the new chairman of the Union parliamentary group

Former head of the Chancellery Thorsten Frei is the new chairman of the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag. The CDU and CSU members elected the 52-year-old CDU politician in a special session with 91.9 percent of the votes as the successor to Jens Spahn, who resigned a week and a half ago. The parliamentary group announced this on X.

CDU politician Frei Source: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

2:47 PM – Wednesday, July 29

Schnieder signs off – without criticism of Merz

CDU politician Patrick Schnieder refrains from criticizing Chancellor Merz after his departure as Federal Minister of Transport. Schnieder said in Berlin during the handover to the new minister Steffen Bilger that it had been an honor and great pleasure for him. "I'm signing off."