BERLIN, July 26 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will propose Steffen Bilger as the country's new federal minister of transport, succeeding the current minister Patrick Schnieder, according to a government statement released on Sunday.

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) member Steffen Bilger delivers a speech in Berlin on May 6, 2025. (File photo: AFP)

Bilger is now first parliamentary secretary of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany. The statement said Merz already informed Schnieder of his plan to adjust the ministerial post on Thursday.

The nomination is the latest step in a series of personnel changes within Merz's cabinet, which was triggered by the resignation of Jens Spahn, former leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Spahn resigned on July 18 amid controversy over becoming a father through surrogacy abroad.

On Friday, Merz announced the appointment of Nina Warken as the new Chancellery head and Carsten Linnemann as the health minister. Additionally, Philipp Amthor was named the new minister of state responsible for federal and state relations in the Chancellery.