Germany's Transport Minister Schnieder to asks Merz to remove him

https://p.dw.com/p/5Hn4yAfter announcing the reshuffle Merz said there could be further Cabinet changes, but didn't offer details [FILE: December 22, 2025]Image: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa/picture allianceAdvertisementGermany's Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder says he will ask Chancellor Friedrich Merz to dismiss him.

"I am drawing the necessary conclusions from the developments of the past few days and, at the same time, wish to put an end to the undignified situation that is making it impossible to carry out the necessary, objective work,” Schieder said in a statement to German press agency dpa on Sunday. Merz announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Friday and it was reported that Schnieder would be amongst those facing the axe. Merz, however, did not comment on this portfolio in his press conference.

There is widespread frustration over the state of Germany's rail network and crumbling infrastructure. A government spokesperson said on Sunday evening that Merz will propose that conservative parliamentary director Steffen Bilger replace Schnieder as transport minister. Merz criticized over treatment of Schnieder Merz has faced criticism after acknowledging on Friday he was considering wider cabinet changes.

In Schnieder's home state of Rhineland-Palatinate it was called a "communication disaster." "We do not understand the chancellor,” Lawmaker Michael Ludwig, from Merz's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), told the Tagesspiegel newspaper. "We have a competent, hard-working and highly regarded transport minister who knows he is going to be sacked - nobody knows why, or who will succeed him," said Ludwig.

The turmoil follows the resignation of former parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn, triggering a series of personnel changes across the conservative-led government. Edited by: Rana Taha Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.

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