CDU member of parliament Fritz Güntzler has apologized for making a mistake when he abruptly canceled his acceptance of the transportation minister position. Speaking to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland,” Güntzler admitted, “I should have asked for more time to think. That was a big mistake.” He added that he deeply regretted putting Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU in difficulty with his actions, and also expressed regret to the many people in his regional association whom he had disappointed.
The financial politician from the Bundestag had initially accepted the job offer from Chancellor Merz (CDU), only to withdraw it a few hours before the official announcement, which led to significant turbulence for Merz and the CDU.
When questioned, Güntzler stated that the situation had simply overwhelmed him. Although he is 60 years old, has vast professional experience, and has been in politics for a long time, he conceded that “in that moment, I didn’t perform correctly.” He added that this frustrated him because it did not meet his own standards.
Furthermore, Güntzler stated that he did not feel suitable for the post, noting that he had never been involved in transport policy. He argued that it would be unacceptable for him to spend six months simply reading up on what ministry staff wrote for him, given his lack of knowledge on the subject. When challenged by the observation that he was not the first federal minister who lacked expertise in their field, Güntzler countered that he held himself to a different standard. He concluded by saying that while some politicians in Berlin urgently desire to become ministers, that had never been his objective.
