German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a cabinet reshuffle on Friday morning, following the resignation of conservative heavyweight Jens Spahn over a surrogacy controversy. More changes are expected in the coming days.

Carsten Linnemann, who served as general secretary of Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), will replace Nina Warken as health minister. Warken will become the chancellor's new chief of staff.

Philipp Amthor was also appointed as state minister responsible for managing the federal government's relations with Germany's 16 states.

Merz said he would announce further changes in the near future, stating that decisions would take "a few days yet, and perhaps more time."

German tabloid Bild reported that Fritz Guentzler would replace Patrick Schnieder as transport minister, though Merz did not comment on this portfolio.

Jens Spahn resigned last weekend after announcing he became a parent via a surrogate mother in the United States. Surrogacy is banned in Germany, and the CDU has repeatedly voted to support the ban.

Merz's popularity has sunk to rock-bottom levels while Europe's largest economy faces years of stagnation.

Source: www.dw.com