Thorsten Frei, the party whip for the CDU, maintained that despite internal discontent within the union regarding a recent personnel reshuffle by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Merz’s authority remains unaffected. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” (Thursday edition), Frei acknowledged that the reshuffle had raised questions, but asserted that these issues had been addressed during the last parliamentary group meeting.
Looking ahead, Frei stated that once the summer break ends, the focus will shift back to substantive policy matters. Regarding the upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin in September, he indicated that he would not link the election outcomes to Merz’s leadership. Nevertheless, he stressed that these elections hold significant importance. According to Frei, strong political moderation is necessary in the federal states, and everything else impacts the country’s stability and the ability to implement pending reforms.
When asked whether he viewed himself as a potential successor to the Chancellor, Frei simply replied that he sees himself “as the chairman of the parliamentary group.” He suggested that the question itself was moot. He noted that his party had appointed him to the role by a large majority, a position he describes as a dream job. Instead, he expressed his intention to concentrate on the success of the coalition-a crucial step in regaining public trust.
