Merkel to give critic cabinet position

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel would promote one of the most prominent critics from within her conservative party, Jens Spahn, to the cabinet, handing him the post of health minister, Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported yesterday.

Putting Spahn, who sharply criticised Merkel’s open-door migrant policy and is seen as a champion of the party’s right wing, in the cabinet was a sign that Merkel was keen to assuage her critics who have called for new blood and a fresh direction.

The 37-year-old has been a deputy finance minister.

Citing party sources, Bild am Sonntag also reported that Merkel has, as expected, decided to put long-standing ally Peter Altmaier in charge of the economy ministry, responsible for expanding broadband across the country.

The paper also said Ursula von der Leyen, once tipped as a possible successor to Merkel, would remain defence minister.

It also reported that senior CDU figure Julia Kloeckner would take over as agriculture minister.

Reuters was not able to confirm or deny the report.

After 12 years as chancellor and about 18 years as CDU chief, Merkel’s authority has started to wane.

Her conservative bloc, which includes Bavaria’s Christian Social Union (CSU), scored their worst result since 1949 in a September election after bleeding support to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

In a further blow, she failed to agree on a coalition deal with two smaller parties, forcing her to turn to the Social Democrats with whom she had shared power from 2013 to year.

A reluctant partner, having seen support fall to its lowest since World War II, the SPD agreed on a deal which party members have to vote on.

The result of the postal ballot is due on March 4 and is unclear.

Should members vote “no” to the deal, the most likely outcome would be a new election or possibly a minority government.

In response to growing rumblings in her party about her future, Merkel has promised “renewal”. She took a big step to grooming a successor last week by nominating ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, premier of the tiny western Saarland state, to take over as CDU general secretary.

CDU members meet today and were expected to approve the coalition deal and also Kramp-Karrenbauer in her post.

The SPD and CSU would announce their cabinet picks at a later date.