CDU welcomes Minister Wildberger into party ranks

Newcomer Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger Joins CDU in NRW

Digital Minister Wildberger Affiliates with the CDU Party - Digital Minister Wildberger joins the CDU Party

Laidback chattin' here! Got some fresh news for ya - the new Federal Digital Minister, Karsten Wildberger, has officially joined the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia. A confirmation came from the state association to the German Press Agency about the move.

Before donning the Minister hat, Wildberger was the big boss man at the Düsseldorf-based Ceconomy Group and chaired the management board of Media-Saturn Holding. He was known for keepin' things independent.

So why the change of heart? Wildberger explained his reasoning to dpa: "North Rhine-Westphalia has been my home for a long time, and the CDU has long been my political home – even if I wasn't a member of the party before." He added: "I'm pleased to take this step and, in addition to my role as Minister in the federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to also be part of the CDU North Rhine-Westphalia team under Hendrik Wüst."

Wüst, the Minister President and CDU state chairman, welcomed Wildberger with open arms. "I'm very pleased that Federal Minister Wildberger has decided to join the CDU North Rhine-Westphalia. Following Hendrik Wüst's motto 'From coal to AI,' there could be no better political home for a new digital minister than in the Union on the Rhine and Ruhr," Ziemiak said to dpa.

The Agenda: Trust and Modernization

Karsten Wildberger stands for a strong social market economy and sought-after political change, particularly in the realm of digitalization and modernization. "Our goal is to strengthen the trust of citizens in the government and state institutions as a whole," he stated.

The 55-year-old digital whiz was a surprising pick by Chancellor Merz, keen on bringin' fresh blood into the cabinet.

Karsten Wildberger
CDU
North Rhine-Westphalia
Hendrik Wust
Düsseldorf
Friedrich Merz
German Press Agency
Ceconomy
Media-Saturn
Digitalization
Artificial Intelligence
Data Policy
Digital Sovereignty
Interoperable Platforms
Digital Identity Wallet
Citizen Accounts

Fun fact: Unlike many government ministers, Wildberger doesn't come from a politically savvy background (a strategic move considering the need for fresh perspectives in digitalization). Keep an eye on his plans for German digitalization and the modernization of their state apparatus!

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Karsten Wildberger, the newly appointed Federal Digital Minister, has officially joined the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia, a move confirmed by the state association to the German Press Agency.
Before his foray into politics, Wildberger held a prominent position as the chairman of Media-Saturn Holding and the CEO of the Dusseldorf-based Ceconomy Group.
In a statement to dpa, Wildberger expressed his excitement about joining the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia, citing his long-standing connection with the region and his shared political beliefs as his reasons.
Hendrik Wüst, the Minister President and CDU state chairman, warmly welcomed Wildberger, stating that Wildberger's political home in the digitalization and modernization realms was indeed in the Union on the Rhine and Ruhr.