Katherina Reiche: Changing economic course against green ideas!

Katherina Reiche: Changing economic course against green ideas!

On May 16, 2025, Katherina Reiche gave her first speech as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. In her speech, which included statements on green economic policy, she clearly distanced herself from the approaches of her predecessor Robert Habeck. Katherina Reiche criticized the support for deindustrialization and post-growth approaches and emphasized that Germany has not lost its focus on growth. Her experiences as a former state secretary and manager at energy companies give her position particular weight.

Reiche, who has served in Merz's cabinet since May 6, 2025, faces the challenge of leading Germany out of an impending recession. In her “bullet speech” she did not present any specific implementation strategies, but praised the basic principles of the social market economy, such as market and competition, personal responsibility, performance and liability. The liberal framework she is drawing up could be the key to her policy integration and help cement her role as a central figure in the cabinet.

Restructuring and new accents

A central point of her speech was the announcement that she would restructure the management level of the ministry, which represents a clear departure from her predecessor. Reiche also named specific issues that she believes are in urgent need of reform. With regard to the supply chain law, she announced that the reporting requirements in national law would be abolished and made it clear that many questions remained unanswered.

Particular attention was paid to Reiche's approach to amending the heating law. She said she wanted to withdraw the technology bans set out in the last version and lift the ban on the operation of boilers. These approaches suggest that it is ready to bring about economic policy changes to meet the challenges in the industry.

Career and personal backgrounds

Katherina Birgitt Reiche was born on July 16, 1973 in Luckenwalde and was a member of the German Bundestag from 1998 to 2015. She was active in various political positions, including as deputy chairwoman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and parliamentary state secretary in several ministries. Her professional career in business included, among other things, the role as managing director of the Association of Municipal Companies and the management of innogy Westenergie GmbH.

In the political context, she is known not only for her business successes, but also for her involvement in various social issues. Reiche was a founding member of the RCDS and joined the Junge Union and the CDU early on. In her political career, she supported, among other things, the areas of education and research and was chairwoman of the working group of the same name in the CDU/CSU parliamentary group from 2002 to 2005.

Reiche is a Protestant and mother of three children. She was married to the CDU politician Sven Petke and has had a public relationship with Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg since 2025. Her experiences and recent political decisions suggest that she aims to play a prominent role in the future of German economic policy.