Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday named a new transport minister, completing a chaotic cabinet reshuffle sparked by a senior party member resigning over a surrogacy scandal.
Steffen Bilger, 47, of Merz's conservative CDU party, will be formally appointed on Wednesday to replace Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder, Merz told a press conference after a meeting of the party leadership.
Merz's intention to sack Schnieder leaked last week but according to German media no formal announcement was made because Merz's original pick for his replacement pulled out at the last minute.
Having been left in post for several days regardless, Schnieder then asked to be released from the job on Sunday.
Merz told reporters on Monday he was "sorry for the situation that resulted" from Schnieder's botched dismissal and said that he has "no problem" with him.
