The German federal government is expected to appoint a successor to economist Ulrike Malmendier, who recently stepped down from the Expert Council on Economic Affairs, by this coming Wednesday. Sources indicate that the candidate has already accepted the offer, and the personnel matter is now being coordinated between the relevant ministries, reports FAZ citing well‑informed sources.
The CDU‑led Federal Ministry of Economics and the Chancellery have pushed hard for a trade economist to join the council’s five members. Gabriel Felbermayr, former president of the Institute of World Economy in Kiel, fits that profile and is believed to be the CDU’s preferred choice. When asked by the newspaper a few days ago-and even over the weekend-Felbermayr declined to comment on the potential appointment. Likewise, the Federal Finance Ministry and the Federal Ministry of Economics chose not to provide any comment.
Malmendier’s term expired at the end of February. It was surprising that the Berkeley‑based economist was not named for a second term. The new economics minister, Katharina Reiche, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, both from the CDU, are said to have pushed for changes in the independent council.
In a public statement to FAZ, the departing expert said, “I was very surprised by this news”. She added that the federal government had given no negative feedback or criticism toward her until the very last moment. “On Saturday – my last day – Mrs. Reiche called me” she recalled.
