Linnemann has come to terms with a role outside the cabinet

Berlin – CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann has come to terms with his role outside the cabinet – and is now emphasizing his good relationship with the Chancellor. "I am part of the solution, part of the project, the policy change," Linnemann told the news magazine Politico. "The mere fact that I can continue to help ensure that the policy change comes about in the coalition committee ensures that I share responsibility, and I'm looking forward to it." Linnemann says he doesn't want to pretend. "I'll stay the way I am. Some like that, some don't," said the CDU Secretary General. "I simply state my opinion and discuss it with Friedrich Merz." Linnemann certainly sees a tension between the government and the party. This is "a balancing act that must be mastered." Merz himself knows "that the way we may have done things for years in the CDU, when we governed, may not have always been right." The party's independence from the government is important to Linnemann: "The Konrad Adenauer House must not be the press spokesperson for the federal government, but must remain independent," he said. It will certainly happen "two or three times" that Merz intervenes and says, "Stop, this is my party, the general secretary has gone too far. But I believe this relationship must be tolerated." Linnemann sees major challenges: "I believe it is easier to be an opposition party than a governing party," the general secretary said. "I must also honestly say that I have not achieved my election goal." His personal goal was "30 plus X." The CDU politician said that everyone in the inner circle during the coalition negotiations knew that he would like to take over the Ministry of Labor. However, the discussions about the allocation of portfolios were conducted solely by the party leaders: "Then I heard the result afterwards and took note of it and accepted it. And I didn't grumble or anything." Linnemann said he is in close contact with Merz: "Two or three times a week in person and even more by phone."