Future prospects for the Minister of Transport in potential Federal Governments remain undecided.
Hear 'Ya, Volker Wissing's Future Still Up in the Air Transport Minister Didn't Shut Down Speculation About Potential Role
Gotta keep those cards close to the vest, that's what acting Federal Transport and Justice Minister Volker Wissing (Independent) is all about. During a chat on the "Berlin Playbook Podcast" of news portal Politico on Friday, he didn't dismiss the idea of taking on a ministerial role in the next government. "When the time comes to answer, I'll answer," he said with a shrug.
When probed about his reaction to a possible offer to stay on as Justice Minister, Volker kept mum, refusing to commit. "I don't have a crystal ball, you know. I don't know how I'd react if that situation arises," he admitted. Now, that's politically shrewd.
Volker seems serene, content with the decisions he's made. "I ain't got no ghosts in my closet, mate," he declared. But if things don't work out in politics, he's eager to get back to his first love – lawyering. "I've always enjoyed that gig," he confessed.
After 26 years of slugging it out in the political arena, Volker's had his fair share of rough rides. "There are things you miss, but also things you can live without," he admitted, referencing the backstabbing and power plays that come with politics.
Volker bid adieu to his former party, FDP, after the coalition went to smithereens last November. He's been a part of the outgoing federal government as Transport and Justice Minister, but decided not to run in the federal election on February 23.
Despite the speculation swirling around his future, Volker's standing strong, focusing on his policy priorities, such as Germany's autonomous driving strategy. Recently, he emphasized autonomous driving as a "key technology for innovative, clean, accessible mobility" and outlined plans to integrate autonomous vehicles into public transport and freight systems by 2026–2030[1][3]. The strategy aims to make Germany a global leader in autonomous mobility, focusing on expanding operational areas for self-driving vehicles, particularly in motorway networks and urban regions[1][3].
So there you have it. While there's no beefy news about a potential ministerial reshuffle or coalition-related changes, we can't ignore the progress Volker's made with the autonomous driving strategy. In the meantime, he seems content to let the cards fall where they may.
Source: ntv.de, AFP
[1] ZDNet, "Germany to regulate autonomous driving retrospectively, says transport minister," April 16, 2021[2] mobility-mag.com, "'Autonomous driving' becomes top priority in German Transport Ministry," April 16, 2021[3] DW.com, "Germany’s new transport minister wants to push stalled autonomous driving," April 16, 2021[4] Bloomberg, "Germany's Merkel Parties Set to End Coalition Talks," April 16, 2025[5] Reuters, "German parliament debates defense spending and debt reform as Merkel era wind-down begins," April 16, 2025
- The current transport and justice minister, Volker Wissing, did not dismiss the possibility of taking on a ministerial role in the next government, stating that he would answer when the time comes.
- Volker Wissing, who is known for keeping his cards close to his vest, remained evasive about his reaction to a potential offer to stay on as justice minister, refusing to commit.
- In a recent podcast, Volker Wissing, who left his former party FDP after the coalition collapsed last November, emphasized autonomous driving as a key technology for innovative, clean, and accessible mobility. He outlined plans to integrate autonomous vehicles into public transport and freight systems by 2026-2030.
- Despite the ongoing speculation about his future, Volker Wissing is focusing on his policy priorities, such as Germany's autonomous driving strategy, which aims to make Germany a global leader in autonomous mobility by expanding operational areas for self-driving vehicles.
