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Questioning Merz’s cabinet shake-up as a political gamble

Published July 27, 2026 at 4:03 PM UTC

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Critics warn that Merz’s decision to sack the transport minister may backfire by creating short-term instability and losing institutional knowledge. The dismissed minister had decades of experience navigating complex EU regulations and federal-state negotiations. His removal could delay ongoing projects while a new minister gets up to speed. Opposition leaders accuse Merz of using the minister as a scapegoat for broader failures in the coalition’s transport policy, which they say lacks coherent funding and long-term planning. The reshuffle also risks alienating the coalition’s junior partner, which had backed the sacked minister. Political analysts note that such moves often generate temporary headlines but rarely address underlying issues like underinvestment and bureaucratic inefficiency. Voters may see the shake-up as a desperate act rather than a genuine reform effort, especially if the new minister fails to deliver quick results. The gamble could hurt Merz’s credibility if the promised improvements do not materialize before the election.