Günther Krings is expected to become the first Parliamentary Managing Director of the CDU/CSU Bundestag parliamentary group, according to reports from the “Handelsblatt” citing party sources. This move would establish the head of the North Rhine-Westphalia regional group as a key supporter of the designated new group chair, Thorsten Frei.
Steffen Bilger, the current Managing Director, is reportedly being considered for the position of Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Digital Affairs to succeed Philipp Amthor. However, Bilger previously held a State Secretary position in the Ministry of Transport, leaving it unclear whether he will take on this new role or if an alternative position will be secured for him. These personnel changes have not yet been officially confirmed.
A structural shift appears necessary due to the fact that both Frei and Bilger are representatives from Baden-Württemberg, which would result in two members from that state holding top positions within the parliamentary group. Furthermore, three other members from the same regional association currently sit on the group’s executive board. This would eventually mean that five of the group’s 20 members would be from Baden-Württemberg, should Frei be elected as the group chair next Wednesday. In this setup, Krings would represent the largest regional association, North Rhine-Westphalia, in the group’s leadership, assuming the role previously held by Jens Spahn.
