Germany's Merz criticized for treatment of transport minister

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing criticism over a "communication disaster" in his treatment of Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder amid intense speculation of a government reshuffle in Berlin. 

Lawmaker Michael Ludwig, from Merz's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), told the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Sunday that the party's regional branch in Rhineland-Palatinate - Schnieder's home state - was "in a state of shock."

"We do not understand the chancellor," Ludwig added, saying the mood "well below zero."

Merz's conservative-led government has been in flux in recent days after Jens Spahn was forced to resign as parliamentary group leader due to an uproar over his use of a surrogate mother in the United States to father a child with his husband despite the practice being illegal in Germany. 

The resignation has set off a row of ministerial changes, with Merz ally Thorsten Frei, previous head of the Chancellery, replacing Spahn and being succeeded by health minister Nina Warken. 

Merz admitted he was mulling whether to take the opportunity for a wider reshuffle, with Transport Minister Schnieder - whose brother Gordon Schnieder is the new premier of Rhineland-Palatinate - said to be among those due to be fired.

CDU economic expert Fritz Güntzler was reportedly lined up by the chancellor to take the position, but surprisingly turned it down, leaving Schnieder in limbo amid mounting frustration within the party at Merz's leadership.

"We have a competent, hard-working and highly regarded transport minister who knows he is going to be sacked – nobody knows why, or who will succeed him," said Ludwig. 

The uncertainty comes at an inopportune time for Merz's CDU, which is set for a drubbing at the hands of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in three important state elections in September.