Overview

• Florian Engels, Brandenburg’s spokesperson for nearly ten years, has transitioned to a role in the Economics Ministry ahead of his planned retirement at the end of 2025.
• Engels criticized the Staatskanzlei’s press operations, stating that professional press work had become nearly impossible and proposed reforms were not implemented.
• In a private SMS, Engels described the situation as 'hardly bearable,' later clarifying that his remarks did not target Ministerpräsident Dietmar Woidke but another individual.
• Engels expressed regret over public fallout from his sudden reassignment, calling the resulting damage avoidable.
• Ministerpräsident Woidke, facing internal SPD tensions, is also managing disputes over his interior minister and the abrupt dismissal of the domestic intelligence chief.