Thorsten Frei (CDU), the Minister at the Chancellery, conceded that the federal government has deficiencies in its external communication efforts amidst ongoing reform attempts. Speaking to the TV channel “Welt” on Monday, Frei acknowledged the survey results, stating that the government is performing worse in this area than it should be. However, he stressed the importance of concentrating discussions on substantive policy matters rather than merely style issues. He argued that the coalition partners share common goals that are not apparent to the public, describing this lack of visible unity as a real problem.
Frei further admitted that the government’s public image indirectly contributes to the strong poll numbers achieved by the AfD opposition party. He noted that the AfD’s success is linked to the perception that the governing coalition is not perceived as successful, suggesting a need to change this narrative. To achieve this, he argued that the government must address domestic challenges with significantly more energy. He stated that merely adhering to the letter of the coalition agreement is insufficient; instead, they must tackle massive challenges-which he deemed larger than before-with greater resolve. This, he concluded, is essential to counter the AfD and preempt its tendency to merely point out problems without offering viable solutions.
Regarding his personal professional relationship with Chancellor Merz, Frei asserted that it remains strong and trusting, predicting that it will remain so in the future. He refuted allegations that he had been reprimanded or “screamed at” dismissing rumors about his personal life as lacking any real foundation.
Finally, he defended the government’s overall reform efforts, focusing heavily on the healthcare reform. He described this reform as the “most comprehensive in the last 20 years”. In addition, he contended that the measures are vital because they will stabilize mandatory employer contributions and social security payments, thus making a genuine contribution to boosting the country’s overall competitiveness and location attractiveness.
