Merz Does Not Rule Out Cabinet Reshuffle Following Spahn's Resignation

Background: Spahn's Resignation the Day Before the Interview

The letter continued: „Denn der Spagat zwischen meiner privaten Entscheidung zu einem Kind durch Leihmutterschaft und der nachvollziehbaren Erwartung an mich als Vorsitzenden unserer Fraktion ist größer geworden, als ich es erwartet hatte." Merz described the resignation as „richtig" and „unvermeidlich" and thanked Spahn for their cooperation.

Merz said on ZDF that Spahn had informed the party and the faction about his step „sehr, sehr spät." „Wir hatten alle kaum Gelegenheit, mit ihm darüber zu sprechen," said the chancellor. Had they had more time, „hätten wir das in Ruhe besprechen können, aber die Zeit hatten wir nicht." Merz simultaneously emphasized that credibility is „das höchste Gut in der Politik." The damage to the Union's credibility had become „überdeutlich" to him on Saturday. „Deswegen haben wir dann ja auch gehandelt."

Merz: Informed „sehr, sehr spät"

While expressing outrage, Merz was also surprised by the extent of the public reaction. „Mit einer Empörungswelle in diesem Umfang habe ich nicht gerechnet," he said. At the same time, he attributed part of the reactions to Spahn as a person: „Es hatte wahrscheinlich auch was mit seiner Person zu tun." The chancellor pointed out that he receives a great deal of approval from the public for his positions: „Ich bekomme sehr viel Zustimmung in der Bevölkerung für das, was ich zu diesen Sachverhalten sage."

For the position of faction leader, Merz announced a proposal „relativ bald," but stressed repeatedly that there was no rush. „Wir werden in den Parteigremien in den nächsten Tagen darüber sprechen und wir werden relativ bald einen Vorschlag machen, aber es drängt uns jetzt die Zeit nicht," he said. He would develop the proposal together with CSU chief Markus Söder. The new faction leader would then be elected by the faction itself. In the meantime, according to information from the Union, CSU state group leader Alexander Hoffmann will take over the duties on an interim basis.

Three Names for the Faction Leadership

According to media reports, the chief candidates mentioned as possible successors are Chief of the Chancellery Thorsten Frei (CDU) and CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) is also mentioned in the speculation, as is deputy faction leader Günter Krings. Should Chief of the Chancellery Frei switch positions, Merz would have to fill this influential post. Should Dobrindt move to the faction, the interior portfolio would also need to be reassigned.

Merz answered the question of whether there would be a larger government reshuffle with notable restraint and explicitly in the subjunctive: „Es könnte eine Gelegenheit sein, noch einmal über die Aufstellung der Bundesregierung nachzudenken." He also made clear that the Union faction was capable of acting even without an immediate decision: „Die Fraktion ist, wenn notwendig, arbeitsfähig."

Merz Tempers Expectations of a Reshuffle

The Union faction is currently in the parliamentary summer break; the next session-free period extends until early September. According to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Merz is pursuing the goal of reaching a decision before the start of his vacation at the end of July. According to his circle, he had — together with other CDU politicians — already urged Spahn to step down from the office before the resignation.

In addition to personnel matters, the chancellor also spoke about economic and tax policy plans. According to his words, a planned tax reform should relieve a family with an income of 60,000 euros by 600 euros per year. At the same time, he pointed to strained state finances as a limiting factor: „Wir können im Augenblick nicht viel mehr machen, weil die Staatsfinanzen sehr angespannt sind."

Merz also expressed displeasure with the public discourse in Germany. „Ich bin es einfach leid, dass nur schlecht geredet wird über Deutschland," he said, calling for greater willingness to perform: „Insgesamt müssen wir in diesem Land einfach eine höhere Leistung erbringen, und dazu stehe ich." He also rejected the accusation that he had accused Germans of laziness: „Das ist doch nicht Faulheit, die ich jemandem persönlich unterstelle."

State Elections in September as a Further Factor

With a view to the upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin in September, Merz said the political center faces a common task: „Uns darf das Land nicht wegrutschen. Und an der Stelle müssen wir arbeiten. Und das tun wir auch." In Saxony-Anhalt, where elections will be held in around seven weeks, the CDU is — according to polls — far from being able to govern without some form of cooperation with The Left against the AfD; according to one report, an absolute majority for the AfD is even conceivable. The CDU, however, has an incompatibility resolution regarding cooperation with The Left.

Reactions from the other parties were predominantly critical. FDP chairman Wolfgang Kubicki called Spahn's behavior another „moralischen Tiefpunkt der CDU." Die Linke chair Luigi Pantisano and the Greens chair Franziska Brantner described the resignation in the Rheinische Post as „längst überfällig" and pointed to earlier mistakes by Spahn, such as the procurement of overpriced masks. SPD faction leader Matthias Miersch did not want to evaluate the affair politically, but described the cooperation with Spahn as „sehr eng und vertrauensvoll." Thuringia's CDU General Secretary Niklas Waßmann said Spahn had drawn the right consequence. AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel expressed herself similarly on the platform X.

Reactions from the Other Parties

The summer interview also covered other topics such as migration and the dynamics of business start-ups. Merz pointed to a „Rekordzahl von Unternehmensgründungen durch junge Menschen." It also became known that he had used the formulation „kleine Paschas" in 2023 in a different context. This statement was not taken up again in the current interview.

Overall, the appearance painted the picture of a chancellor who classifies the crisis as the result of a personal misstep by a leading politician and at the same time does not want to rule out the opportunity for a broader personnel discussion — without himself naming concrete steps. The deliberations on the faction succession are to begin in the party committees in the coming days.

With regard to the timing, the Deutsche Presse-Agentur pointed out, citing Merz's circle, that he is aiming to reach a decision on the Spahn succession before his vacation at the end of July. In parallel, preparations are underway within the CDU for the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the question of possible coalitions after the vote is likely to gain in urgency.

The case illustrates the political risks that arise when personal life decisions of officeholders collide with the programmatic positions of their own party. Spahn had publicly rejected surrogacy but decided in favor of it in his private life. This contradiction became the basis of the criticism and ultimately of his resignation.