Story perspectives

Merz Names Nina Warken Germany’s First Female Chief of Staff

7/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Chancellor Friedrich Merz appointed Nina Warken as Germany’s first female chief of staff.
Merz moved Carsten Linnemann from CDU general secretary to health minister.
After Jens Spahn resigned as CDU/CSU parliamentary leader over a surrogacy birth that broke the party’s ban, Thorsten Frei will lead the Bundestag faction.
An RTL/ntv Trendbarometer poll shows 14% satisfied with Merz, 85% dissatisfied, AfD at 26% and CDU at 22% before September elections.

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Story summary

Chancellor Friedrich Merz appointed Nina Warken as Germany’s first female chief of staff.
Merz moved Carsten Linnemann from CDU general secretary to health minister.
After Jens Spahn resigned as CDU/CSU parliamentary leader over a surrogacy birth that broke the party’s ban, Thorsten Frei will lead the Bundestag faction.
An RTL/ntv Trendbarometer poll shows 14% satisfied with Merz, 85% dissatisfied, AfD at 26% and CDU at 22% before September elections.