The newly established Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Modernization in Germany is facing mounting criticism regarding its impact and effectiveness, despite assurances from Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU). The ministry, formed under the current black-red coalition government, consolidated departments from five existing ministries and the Chancellery, ostensibly to inject fresh impetus into digital policy. However, experts and even fellow politicians express concerns that, beyond the recently approved modernization agenda, little concrete progress has been achieved in the initial six months.
Minister Wildberger has attempted to deflect criticism by drawing a parallel to football team management-a change in leadership, he argues, can fundamentally alter a team’s performance. He maintains that his approach doesn’t necessitate wholesale personnel changes, prioritizing reorganization over replacement. However, this strategy is drawing fire, with Digital State Secretary of Saxony-Anhalt, Bernd Schlömer (FDP), stating that while there’s a shared desire for success, a notable lack of dynamism and agility currently plagues the ministry’s operations and visible progress remains limited.
Adding to the scrutiny is Wildberger’s unusually direct involvement in departmental projects, including the development of planned administrative apps. Defending this hands-on approach, Wildberger asserts that ministerial engagement – a demonstrable interest in the solutions devised by civil servants – is critical. He argued that a leader must be “closely involved” to stimulate change, even if micro-managing individual details is unnecessary.
This interventionist style raises questions about the degree of autonomy afforded to civil servants and the potential for ministerial interference to stifle innovation, particularly within a department intended to foster modernization and agility. While Wildberger’s rationale centers on driving change from the top, critics suggest his approach may inadvertently create bottlenecks and curtail the very innovation his ministry is tasked with cultivating, ultimately jeopardizing the long-term success of the government’s digital modernization efforts. The efficacy of the new ministry remains questionable, with considerable pressure mounting for demonstrable results beyond rhetoric and reorganization.