Prime Minister Haseloff dismissed Education Minister Feussner

Prime Minister Haseloff dismissed Education Minister Feussner

Halle, Deutschland - The political landscape in Saxony-Anhalt changed again on June 29, 2025 when Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) released Education Minister Eva Feussner (CDU) at the urging of his own faction. The State Chancellery confirmed the personnel in a message published on Sunday evening. In the past few weeks, the Minsterin has been exposed to violent criticism from the ranks of the CDU parliamentary group, which ultimately led to her replacement. The allegations against Feussner revolved around insufficient staff for funding hours, larger primary schools, late overtime payments and a controversial proposal to abolish school trips to the ski wager. A significant part of the parliamentary group declared it intolerable, which finally led to a crisis discussion that Feussner had to revise her decision. Haseloff nevertheless thanked her for the long -term office management, which she has held since her appointment as minister in 2021.

When her successor was 43-year-old Jan Riedel, who previously worked as senior study director and headmaster of the Lyonel-Feininger-Gymnasium in Halle. Riedel has already brought experience into the new role, since he had previously not only worked as a teacher at high schools in Wernigerode and Halle, but also acted as the city council chairman for the CDU. His motto "I am not oriented towards problems, but to solutions" shows that he wants to tackle challenges with fresh wind and a positive attitude. It will also be exciting to observe how Riedel can do justice to the expectations that are made to him, especially in view of the limited possibilities that are available to him.

important political changes

The pressure on the CDU is great: On September 6, 2026, the election of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt is scheduled. The CDU poses a major challenge to rise from the AfD, which won all direct mandates in the past federal election and received 37.1 percent of the votes. In the same period, the CDU achieved only 19.2 percent. In order to achieve voters and strengthen their own positions, education will play a central role in the upcoming election campaign. However, the CDU sees a survey over 30 percent in the country, which gives hope to keep the AfD at a distance.

For the CDU, however, there is not only the dismissal of Feussner. The resignation of Marcus Kurz as a parliamentary managing director is also under pressure. He survived allegations of sexual harassment and apologized for it. CDU parliamentary group leader Guido Heuer described these allegations as serious, which could scratch the party's credibility. In addition, the list party conference was preferred for the list of the candidates to better prepare for the elections.

reactions and the future

The reactions to the changes are mixed. While the Greens celebrate the end of the "self-righteous education policy", the left-wing faction vice Thomas Lippmann expresses that Riedel is confronted with high expectations. It also remains unclear whether Haseloff (71) wants to run again or whether he is left to the field of Economic Minister Sven Schulze (45). Haseloff plans to announce his decision one year before the state election. The pressure to win in the upcoming elections is noticeable and the CDU is in a decisive phase of its political agenda.

The coming months will show how Haseloff, Riedel and the entire CDU prepare for the upcoming challenges. One thing is certain: the political stage in Saxony-Anhalt is anything but boring.