The planned appointment of Steffen Bilger of the CDU as the Federal Transport Minister is facing criticism from the opposition even before the decision is finalized. Jorrit Bosch, the transport policy spokesperson for The Left party, told the “Rheinische Post” (Tuesday edition), stating that through this appointment, Friedrich Merz is making it clear: the Union has not learned from its previous transport policy errors. Bosch argued that Bilger represents, perhaps more than anyone else, the failures of past years. He asserted that the CDU is basing its selection on “stagnation instead of progress.”
Bosch further stated that as a Parliamentary State Secretary under Andreas Scheuer, Bilger shared responsibility for a transport policy that is primarily remembered for its standstill and poor decisions. He criticizes Bilger for consistently opposing a decisive commitment to e-mobility, instead advocating for combustion engines and e-fuels. For Bosch, this signals “not a new beginning, but the continuation of yesterday’s transport policy.”
The opposition group emphasized that the country desperately needs a transport minister who can address the immense backlog in infrastructure upgrades, reliably invest in transport networks, and guarantee affordable mobility for all citizens.
Bilger, who currently serves as the parliamentary manager for the CDU faction, is expected to replace the current Federal Transport Minister, Patrick Schnieder.
