Unapologetic Chief of Staff Frei: "I'm No damned Politician Without Backbone"
Foreign Affairs Commissioner Mr Frei expresses the following:
Get the scoop on the hot-button construction project as Thorsten Frei, the new Chancellor's Chief of Staff, digs in his heels.
The Lowdown on Loyal Frei Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Print Copy Link
Stepping into the spotlight as the fresh head of the Federal Chancellery, Thorsten Frei, a CDU politician, is seen as the federal government's steady hand. In a candid interview with Der Spiegel, he clarified he'll steer clear of political grandstanding, but warned: "I'm a CDU federal minister, not a gutless, spineless politician."
Early Kickoff Frei's Entrance to the Game Frei on Merz's victory: "It took me by surprise"
Although there was a bit of a bumpy start, Frei remains optimistic about the longevity of the new black-red coalition. He stated, "Of course, this partnership will last the full four years." To ensure the coalition agreement's flexibility, they've agreed to adapt to changing events, and even put the agreement aside if necessary to find new solutions. The new government needs to hit the ground running "in a hurry," according to Frei.
Furthermore, Frei emphasized his determination to move forward with the Chancellery's controversial expansion project, which he previously criticized. With the ground already broken, he aims to find the most cost-effective solutions for continued construction.
Under Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Federal Chancellery underwent a significant personnel expansion. Costs for the building's expansion have recently reached a jaw-dropping 800 million euros, despite criticism from then-Finance Minister Christian Lindner.
Political Chaos "A nightmarish chaos" Chancellor election rollercoaster - the behind-the-scenes drama
Frei eyeing personnel cuts
In his new role, Frei has vowed to trim excess fat from the Chancellery's workforce, setting an annual reduction target of 2 percent across all ministries, including the Chancellery. "I won't be the one demanding unpleasant changes while refusing them myself," he declared. With the federal government ballooning over the years, except for a few instances, Frei insists that it's high time to reverse the trend.
The federal government is addressing the overabundance of commissioners, with a decision to trim their numbers having already been made. Frei noted, "I had to double-check if some positions even exist - or was it a joke." He aims to stamp out the commissioner phenomenon, not for cost savings alone, but to streamline the state's organization.
- Federal Government
- German Bundestag
- Thorsten Frei
- Federal Chancellery
- Black-Red
(Notes: A review of the available data indicates that Thorsten Frei has expressed support for stricter migration policies and enhanced border controls as part of the new government's agenda.) (References omitted for brevity.)
- Thorsten Frei, the new Chief of Staff for the EC countries' Chancellor, has made it clear that he will not engage in political grandstanding, but he has stated that he is not a politician without backbone.
- Despite the controversy surrounding the expansion project of the Federal Chancellery, Thorsten Frei, a CDU politician, intends to press forward with finding the most cost-effective solutions for continued construction.
- In his new role, Frei has promised to reduce the workforce of the Federal Chancellery by 2 percent annually and eliminate excessive commissioner positions to streamline the state's organization.
- Frei's determination to tackle excess personnel and streamline the Federal Chancellery is part of a broader commitment to reverse the trend of the federal government's ballooning over the years.
