Thorsten Frei, a ministerial official in the Chancellery (CDU), has acknowledged that current governmental reform efforts highlight deficits in the federal government’s external communication. Speaking to “Welt” TV, Frei conceded that while polls show a problem in this area, the government needs to improve its public messaging. He emphasized that while style issues are apparent, it is crucial that discussions focus on true policy substance, noting that the coalition members have more common ground than what is publicly visible.
Addressing the strong polling numbers of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Frei admitted that the overall public presentation of the government coalition contributes to this outcome. He stated that the AfD’s success is tied to the perception that the governing coalition is not being seen as effective. To remedy this, he stressed the necessity of making significant changes, demanding that the government address the major national challenges with greater vigor. According to Frei, merely following the terms of the coalition agreement will be insufficient; they must tackle the momentous challenges-which are greater than ever before-with decisive action. He suggested this heightened activity is essential to counter the AfD, which, he characterized as a populisitic party, tends to point out problems without offering adequate solutions.
In personal matters, Frei assured the public that his working relationship with Federal Chancellor Merz remains strong and trusting, implying that the rumors suggesting otherwise are baseless.
Furthermore, Frei defended the government’s broader reform agenda, particularly the proposed health care reform, calling it the “most comprehensive in the last 20 years”. He argued that this reform step is crucial for ensuring that social security contributions and labor cost side payments do not continue to rise unchecked, thus providing a genuine boost to the country’s competitive strength and locational attractiveness.