In his old ministry: no more table tennis for Karl Lauterbach

Ex-Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (62) must no longer play table tennis in the basement of his former Ministry. His successor Nina Warken (46, CDU) has lifted a previously valid special permit – much to the displeasure of the SPD politician. He reacts disappointed.

The table tennis table was originally a gift from its employees in the Federal Ministry of Health on the 60th birthday. The passionate player put them in the basement of the authority in Berlin-Mitte and regularly trained there, even received journalists for an interview between the ball changes. After the Bundestag election in February 2025, the CDU took over the Ministry of Health. Karl Lauterbach lost his office, Nina Warken became the new minister. Despite the change, Lauterbach was still allowed to use the sports room.

Lauterbach now confirmed that his successor had withdrawn this privilege “without reason”. The SPD politician is disappointed: “I would have loved to continue playing there.” He mostly trained late at night and “took no room away to anyone”. The BKA, which Lauterbach continues to protect, also agreed to the solution.

His training partner was the former Ü50 champion Nico Popal until the end. Now the two have to look for a new venue. The table tennis plate itself remains in the ministry – Lauterbach “likes to” leave it to the house on Mauerstrasse. The current Ministry of Health did not answer a request from the “Bild”. Whether Nina Warken personally has something in the basement or whether it is a pure formalism remains open.

Karl Lauterbach is now again a regular member of the Bundestag after his term as Federal Minister of Health in the government of Olaf Scholz. In addition, it became public last week that he became a member of a Commission of the World Health Organization (WHO).