Germany's Merz to Propose Bilger as New Transport Minister Amid Cabinet Reshuffle

Key facts

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz will propose Steffen Bilger as the new German transport minister.
• Bilger, a CDU politician, will replace Patrick Schnieder.
• Schnieder requested his dismissal, citing an "undignified situation" that impedes his work.
• Merz had informed Schnieder of the planned change on Thursday.
• Bilger has extensive experience in parliamentary transport committees and as a state secretary in the transport ministry.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to propose Steffen Bilger, a CDU politician and parliamentary director, as the new transport minister. This move comes as part of a cabinet reshuffle aimed at revitalizing the coalition government. The outgoing minister, Patrick Schnieder, announced on Sunday that he would ask Merz to sack him, stating that the current "undignified situation" made his work impossible.

Sources familiar with the matter indicated that Merz had planned to replace Schnieder to inject momentum into his administration. Merz had informed Schnieder of his intention to change ministers on Thursday. In a statement, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius relayed that Merz thanked Schnieder for his work and expressed regret that the transition could not be communicated as planned due to "unforeseen circumstances."

Steffen Bilger, 47, has a significant background in transport policy. He served in the Bundestag's transport committee for nearly a decade (2009-2018) and was subsequently a Parliamentary State Secretary in the Transport Ministry until 2021. He is currently the First Parliamentary Managing Director of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.