Daniel Günther, the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein (CDU), said the federal government must change how it communicates major reforms [1].
This call for a strategic shift comes as the German government faces a slump in public approval polls. The ability to implement significant policy changes often depends on public buy-in, making the current communication gap a potential barrier to legislative success [1, 2].
Speaking during an appearance on the ARD talk show "Maischberger" on May 20, 2026, Günther said the difficulties of pushing through large-scale reforms in the current political climate [2]. He said that the existing approach to presenting these changes to the public is insufficient for the challenges the administration currently faces [1, 2].
"Da muss man in der Kommunikation anders vorgehen," Günther said, meaning that a different approach to communication is necessary [1].
The Minister-President's comments reflect a broader concern within the CDU regarding the government's ability to maintain stability, and public trust, while pursuing necessary structural changes [1, 2]. The discussion centered on the necessity of bridging the gap between policy goals and public perception to ensure that reforms are not only passed, but are also accepted by the electorate [2].
Günther has previously emphasized the need for political alertness regarding opposition strategies. In a separate appearance on the ZDF program "Markus Lanz," he said, "Wir müssen aufwachen und sehen, dass das unsere Gegner ..." [1]. This suggests a belief that political opponents are more effectively communicating their messages than the governing coalition [1].
By highlighting these failures in outreach, Günther is urging the federal leadership to prioritize clarity and persuasion over simple announcement. He said that without a revamped strategy, the government risks further alienation from the public during a period of political vulnerability [1, 2].
“"Da muss man in der Kommunikation anders vorgehen,"”
Günther's critique signals a growing tension between the regional CDU leadership and the federal government's execution of policy. By linking the 'polling low' to a failure in communication, he suggests that the government's struggle is not necessarily with the content of its reforms, but with its inability to sell those reforms to a skeptical public. This indicates a push for a more aggressive or transparent public relations strategy to prevent political opponents from dominating the narrative.
