The future Minister of the Chancellor’s Office, Thorsten Frei (CDU), rejects criticism of the cabinet appointments made by CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Frei told the “Rheinische Post” (Tuesday) that the Eastern regions of the Union are well represented with an Economics Minister from Brandenburg and several State Secretaries and a State Minister. “At the end of the day, it comes down to competence and that it all fits together.”
Other regional branches of the Union are “proportionally much weaker” in terms of population or party members, Frei added. This cannot always be calculated on a one-to-one basis, Frei continued. Furthermore, “the people you have in mind must also be available” said the current parliamentary secretary of the Union fraction.