Merz Shuffles Cabinet Ahead of Elections | San Francisco News

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is reshuffling his cabinet in a high-stakes bid to revive his faltering government ahead of critical regional elections. Facing economic stagnation and a rising AfD threat—especially in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right could seize power for the first time—Merz is betting on fresh faces to restore public confidence. The fallout from Jens Spahn’s resignation over a U.S. surrogacy scandal has forced a leadership overhaul: Thorsten Frei steps into Spahn’s role, while Nina Warken moves to the chancellery and Carsten Linnemann takes over health. With major reforms like pension changes and tax cuts on the table, Merz’s gamble hinges on whether these moves can turn the tide before voters head to the polls. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0c1a9655787a0548