July 24, 2026, 08:50July 24, 2026, 9:07 am
As part of the cabinet reshuffle in Germany, Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder has to leave his post. The German Press Agency (dpa) learned this from party and coalition circles. The “Bild” newspaper and “Table.Briefings” first reported on it.
Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder apparently has to vacate his post.Image: keystone
Financial politician Fritz Güntzler is being discussed as Schnieder’s successor. Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to inform about the cabinet reshuffle at 9 a.m. Schnieder’s successor will also have one main focus: the crisis at the state-owned Deutsche Bahn.
Railway construction site
Schnieder certainly made his mark on the railway. The new railway boss Evelyn Palla, who succeeded Richard Lutz last year, will play a key role in the restructuring. However, many trains are still late and there have been delays in the renovation of heavily used routes.
The debt-financed special fund to modernize the infrastructure focuses on renovating the rail network and bridges. However, many billions will be missing in the coming years for the construction and expansion of motorways and railway lines – because the money for this comes from the core budget, whose situation is tense.
Demanded more money
Last September, reports from the Ministry of Transport caused a stir that there could be delays in new construction and expansion projects on motorways and federal highways due to billions in gaps. Lists were circulating for federal states as to exactly which projects construction approval could not be granted – and in which constituency they were located.
It wasn’t just well received by the Ministry of Finance. However, the leaders of the ruling coalition of Christian and Social Democrats then agreed on additional funds. Merz said: “Everything that is ready for construction will be built.”
After Jens Spahn’s resignation as chairman of the parliamentary group of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU and CSU) last Saturday, Merz is restructuring the government and the party leadership. (dab/sda/dpa)