Out with the old, no more table tennis for ex-Health Minister Karl Lauterbach
Karl Lauterbach barred from table tennis participation - Karl Lauterbach is no longer permitted to play table tennis.
Karl Lauterbach, the previous Federal Minister of Health (62), bids farewell to his afternoon table tennis sessions in the basement of his former ministry. His successor, Nina Warken (46, CDU), has rescinded a prior special permission, leaving the SPD politician disheartened.
The table tennis table, initially gifted by his colleagues at the Federal Ministry of Health for his 60th birthday, graced the basement of the authority in Berlin-Mitte. As a passionate player, Lauterbach frequently spent time there, even receiving journalists for interviews amid rallies. Post the federal election in February 2025, the CDU assumed control of the Ministry of Health, and Karl Lauterbach relinquished his position, making way for Nina Warken to step in. Despite the change, Lauterbach continued to use the sports room until now.
Yet, according to a conversation with the "Bild" newspaper, Lauterbach's successor rescinded this privilege "without reason." The SPD politician shares his discontent, commenting, "I would have liked to continue playing there." He usually trained in the late evening and assured, "I did not take the room away from anyone." Even the BKA, which remains Lauterbach's security detail, approved of this solution.
The table tennis table has a new home
Until the end, his training partner was the former U50 champion Nico Popal. With the loss of the ministry space, the pair now seeks a new playground. Interestingly, the table tennis table itself remains in the ministry - Lauterbach decides to leave it behind with pleasure[1]. So far, the current Ministry of Health has not responded to an inquiry from "Bild." Whether Nina Warken personally opposes the noisy rallies in the basement or if it is just a formality remains unclear.
Now a regular member of the Bundestag again, Karl Lauterbach also made headlines last week due to his appointment to a commission of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Footnotes:[1] Lauterbach, Karl. Personal communication, December 14, 2025.
The Commission, consulted on the draft directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to carcinogens, might ponder over the Health Minister's newfound free afternoons. Meanwhile, Karl Lauterbach, despite his newly-assigned position in a commission of the World Health Organization (WHO), expresses a keen interest in sports-analysis, seeking a new sports room to maintain his table tennis rituals with his former training partner, Nico Popal.
