During a press conference, Merz introduced new appointees, including Nina Warken as Chief of Staff and Carsten Linnemann as Health Minister, aiming to project a sense of decisiveness. However, the absence of an official announcement regarding Schnieder’s departure, communicated via SMS, has led to speculation about Merz’s leadership and the future of the Transport Ministry. The intended successor, Fritz Güntzler, declined the position due to concerns over his qualifications, leaving Merz without a clear candidate and prompting criticism of his management style within the Union.