Thorsten Frei

Thorsten Frei (born 8 August 1973) is a German lawyer and politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who has chaired the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag since July 2026. From 2025 to 2026 he was Head of the Federal Chancellery and Federal Minister for Special Tasks in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government, a role central to coordinating federal administration and policy execution.

Elected to the Bundestag as a representative of the Schwarzwald-Baar district since 2013, Frei previously held influential positions within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, including deputy chairman for domestic and legal policy from 2018 to 2021 and First Parliamentary Secretary from 2021 to 2025. His tenure in these roles emphasized expertise in legal affairs, consumer protection, and internal security, positioning him as a close confidant to Merz and a key architect of the CDU's opposition strategy before the 2025 federal election.

Frei's elevation to the Chancellery underscored his significance in the Merz administration, where he advocated for stricter sanctions on Russia and addressed domestic challenges like labor market reforms, reflecting the CDU's priorities on economic resilience and foreign policy assertiveness.

Early life and education

Early years

Thorsten Frei was born on 8 August 1973 in Bad Säckingen, Baden-Württemberg.

Frei identifies publicly as Roman Catholic.

Professional training

Frei obtained his Abitur, the German university-entrance qualification, in 1993 at a gymnasium in Bad Säckingen. He subsequently completed his compulsory military service from 1993 to 1994 with the German-French Brigade.

From 1994 to 1999, he studied law at the University of Freiburg, culminating in the first state examination in 1999. His practical legal training followed as a referendary at the Waldshut-Tiengen Regional Court from 1999 to 2001, after which he qualified fully as a lawyer upon passing the second state examination. This foundational legal education equipped him with expertise in jurisprudence that informed his subsequent professional roles.

Political career

Entry into politics

Thorsten Frei entered politics through local engagement in Baden-Württemberg, beginning as a city councilor and chairman of the CDU group in the municipal council of Bad Säckingen from 1999 to 2004. In parallel, he assumed leadership roles within CDU branches, serving as district chairman of the CDU Waldshut from 2001 to 2004.

Frei's first major electoral success came in 2004 when he was elected mayor of Donaueschingen, a position he held until 2013, focusing on municipal administration and regional development. He deepened his party involvement by becoming deputy state chairman of the CDU in Baden-Württemberg and, from 2006 to 2016, state chairman of the CDU's local political association in the state.

These foundational roles in local governance and CDU structures in Baden-Württemberg positioned him for national prominence ahead of the 2013 federal election.

Bundestag membership

Thorsten Frei was first elected to the German Bundestag in the 2013 federal election, representing the Schwarzwald-Baar constituency (Wahlkreis 286) in Baden-Württemberg. He assumed office on 22 October 2013, succeeding Siegfried Kauder as the district's representative.

Frei has maintained his seat through re-elections in 2017, 2021, and 2025, consistently winning the direct mandate for the CDU in the district. In the 2021 election, he secured 36.4% of the first votes. He won again in 2025, ensuring continued representation of the rural southwestern constituency bordering Switzerland.

Throughout his membership in the 18th to 21st terms, Frei focused on district interests, including local infrastructure and economic issues in the Black Forest-Baar region, while participating in parliamentary committees to advance legislative work tied to his mandate.

Parliamentary leadership

Frei advanced within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, serving as Deputy Chair for domestic and legal policy from 2018 to 2021. In this position, he contributed to the coordination of the group's efforts in these areas, focusing on organizational alignment and policy implementation within the Bundestag.

From 2021 to 2025, Frei served as First Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU/CSU group. This position entailed overseeing internal group coordination, managing parliamentary business, and facilitating dynamics among members to ensure unified action on legislative matters.

Appointment as Head of the Federal Chancellery

Thorsten Frei was appointed Head of the Federal Chancellery and Federal Minister for Special Tasks on 6 May 2025 in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet, following the CDU/CSU's victory in the February 2025 federal election. As Merz's longtime confidant, Frei was selected for his organizational acumen and prior parliamentary leadership, positioning him as the chancellor's key coordinator.

In this central role, Frei oversaw the chancellery's operations, facilitating communication between the chancellor, federal ministries, and the Bundestag to ensure seamless policy execution and administrative efficiency. The position's significance lay in its mandate to drive Merz's governmental priorities, including inter-ministerial alignment and rapid response to legislative demands, making Frei instrumental in the administration's effectiveness.

Political positions and views

Domestic and legal policy

Frei has advocated for bolstering internal security by expanding the capabilities of intelligence agencies to include proactive defensive measures against threats to Germany. In overseeing intelligence reforms, he argued that passive observation is insufficient in the face of attacks, emphasizing the need for active self-defense as part of a broader security paradigm shift akin to the Zeitenwende.

As deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group for domestic and legal affairs, Frei contributed to debates on strengthening the rule of law through targeted judicial reforms. He called for increasing the number of judges and public prosecutors to address overburdened courts and urged the Justice Ministry to establish legal foundations for faster, more efficient criminal proceedings.-brauchen-dringend-mehr-richter-und-staatsanwaelte)

His positions on judicial matters prioritize resource allocation and procedural efficiency to uphold constitutional principles of fair and timely justice, reflecting a conservative emphasis on a robust state apparatus for law enforcement.

Consumer protection

As deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group for legal affairs and consumer protection from 2018 to 2021, Thorsten Frei coordinated the group's legislative activities and positions on consumer protection matters. In this role, he addressed consumer-related issues alongside domestic policy, focusing on safeguarding citizen interests in regulatory frameworks. Frei's responsibilities emphasized balancing market regulations with protections for consumers against unfair practices.