Carsten Linnemann does not become a minister and remains CDU general secretary

CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann surprisingly remains in office and does not switch to the possible new federal government as a minister. Linnemann is considered a close confidante of the probably new Chancellor and CDU chairman Friedrich Merz. Previously, it was speculated that Linnemann could become the new Federal Minister of Economics in the coalition of the Union and the SPD.

Linnemann reported in a short, social media that he had recorded in front of the fish ponds, an excursion destination in his hometown Paderborn. The 47-year-old confirmed what had previously become known in the capital: he remains general secretary of the CDU. “I think that’s good, that’s really good because it is exactly my thing.” There was the opportunity to take over a post in the cabinet. “But everyone who knows me knows that I am always concerned with the matter and it just has to fit, otherwise it just doesn’t make sense. And that’s why my gut feeling tells me at this point: As a general secretary, I can better push the change of policy. I will do that.”

The “Bild” newspaper said Linnemann with a view to the Union’s defeat in autumn 2021: “We have worked hard to rebuild our CDU in the past three years. This process has not yet been completed. I want to continue it.”

As the German Press Agency learned from the environment of Merz, the party leader Linnemann had offered to go to the cabinet or to continue the party as general secretary in reigns. Linnemann decided to work for the CDU after careful consideration. Merz is very good for this decision.

As Secretary General, Linnemann is not involved in the cabinet discipline and is likely to work to sharpen the CDU’s profile. In the Bundestag election, the Union had by far become the strongest force, but remained behind expectations with a result of 28.5 percent.

The Secretary General of the NRW-CDU, Paul Ziemiak, paid Linnemann to X the “greatest respect”. He waived a ministerial post in order to continue to serve the CDU as a general secretary and also strongly position the party in a new federal government, wrote Ziemiak on X.

In surveys, the Union had recently lost ground. In the new ZDF polite barometer, the AfD approached the Union. Accordingly, CDU/CSU is 26 percent forward, but lose one percentage point for the previous survey. The AfD can increase two points to 24 percent.

During the coalition negotiations with the SPD, the CDU had repeatedly loud. The Junge Union threatened a coalition agreement with a no if it is not anchored in the change of policy promised by Merz in the election campaign. The loosening of the debt brake for more money for defense met with the SPD and the Greens also met with criticism in the CDU.

Linnemann has been CDU general secretary since July 2023. During its tenure, the CDU decided a new basic program.

Linnemann has been a member of the Bundestag since 2009. From 2013 to 2021 he was the Federal Chairman of the SME and Economic Union and thus one of the most important minds of the CDU economic wing. In the coalition negotiations of the Union and the SPD, he was one of the chief negotiators.

His second great passion besides politics is football, he writes on his homepage. Linnemann has been Vice President of the second division club SC Paderborn since 2018.

Before the election, it was speculated that Merz is aiming for a new “super ministry” for economy and work and that Linnemann could be a candidate for this. The reform of the civil allowance was a central goal of the Union.
However, the department for work and social affairs remains and falls to the Social Democrats according to the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD – the SPD is currently running a member vote on the coalition agreement.

According to the coalition agreement, the CDU, among other things, provides the management of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. However, the responsibilities of the previous Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection are changed – the area of ​​climate protection goes to the Ministry of the Environment, which falls to the SPD. The Ministry of Economic Affairs could therefore lose importance.

Anyone who becomes the new Minister of Economics and thus the successor to the managing minister Robert Habeck (Greens) is open. A candidate could be the former health minister Jens Spahn, who is responsible for business as a parliamentary group vice.

Spahn wrote on platform X that Linnemann remains CDU general secretary: “For the party, this is really good news, he will continue to represent the concerns of our voters and members.” Spahn thanked Linnemann that he was responsible for the party.

In addition to Spahn, the CDU federal vice and energy and climate expert Andreas Jung could also be a candidate for the office of Minister of Economic Affairs.

“According to Linnemann’s decision, it is now all the more important that the Union nominates a minister for this key position with a clear economic -liberal profile and a high credibility,” said the General Secretary of the CDU, Wolfgang Steiger, the “Augsburg General”.

Note: This article has been updated.