Probably no digital ministry for Germany

For the start-up association, the creation of a digital ministry is long overdue. Now it is becoming clear that there will not be one, even with an all-party coalition.

They wanted a new start for Germany, but a digital ministry is apparently not part of it: As the Handelsblatt reports, citing confidential persons from the FDP environment, the Liberals are withdrawing their demand for a separate ministry for digital affairs. The reason given is the organizational and personnel costs, which would "slow down rather than accelerate the efficiency and speed of digitalization", as Handelsblatt writes.

This leaves the topic to the various departments: For start-ups, this means that e-mobility will be determined by the Ministry of Transport, e-health will come under the Ministry of Health and the expansion of the network will be regulated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. There will probably not be a clear responsibility with its own agenda in the next government either. However, according to the Handelsblatt, it would be possible to link the responsibility for digital matters more closely to another ministry, while not overly restricting the competencies of the other ministries in their specialist areas. There could also be a Minister of State for Digital Affairs.

The digital ministry was primarily the wish of the FDP, which also called for it in its election manifesto. Christian Lindner, leader of the Liberals, repeatedly emphasized the importance of such a ministry during the election campaign. Christian Miele, Chairman of the Federal Association of German Start-ups, also called for such an authority.