Merz Restructures Cabinet to Combat Far-right Influence in Germany

WHO:

ABC News - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

ABC News - Health Minister Nina Warken

ABC News - Thorsten Frei, Merz's chief of staff

ABC News - Carsten Linnemann, general secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)

ABC News - Jens Spahn, CDU parliamentary leader

DW.com - Philipp Amthor, new minister of state

DW.com - Alice Weidel, AfD co-leader

WHAT:

ABC News - Merz reshuffled top posts in his cabinet to combat the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

ABC News - Warken will become the first woman to serve as chief of staff.

ABC News - Linnemann will replace Warken as health minister.

ABC News - Merz stated that further cabinet changes are expected in the coming days.

ABC News - Spahn resigned over a surrogacy controversy, leading to the reshuffle.

DW.com - Merz announced that he would reveal more cabinet changes in the near future.

WHERE:

ABC News - Berlin, Germany

ABC News - Saxony-Anhalt, Germany (region facing elections)

WHEN:

ABC News - Regional elections are scheduled for September 6.

ABC News - Merz took office less than 15 months ago.

WHY:

ABC News - Merz's government is deeply unpopular, and the AfD is gaining support due to widespread discontent.

ABC News - The reshuffle was prompted by Spahn's resignation over accusations of hypocrisy regarding surrogacy.

HOW:

ABC News - Merz's cabinet changes are intended to create a government that works with "great vigor and pleasure" and reflects the diversity of society.

ABC News - The government is pursuing reforms, including changes to the pension system and tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 14:38 UTC)

In a significant cabinet reshuffle aimed at countering the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has appointed Nina Warken as the first woman to serve as chief of staff, while Carsten Linnemann will take over as health minister. This shake-up follows the resignation of Jens Spahn, who stepped down amid a surrogacy controversy, and Merz has indicated that more changes are expected in the near future as his government faces regional elections on September 6. The reshuffle is part of Merz's effort to create a more dynamic government that reflects societal diversity and is focused on pursuing reforms like pension system changes and tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners.