Overview
- The federal cabinet approved Ploß’s appointment on May 28 to succeed Green politician Dieter Janecek in steering maritime economy and tourism policy for the Merz administration.
- A CDU member of the Bundestag since 2017, Ploß has served on transport and European affairs committees and led the Hamburg CDU from 2020 to 2023.
- He will work to reduce the port repair backlog and elevate harbor policy to a national priority by boosting federal support to coastal states.
- Priority infrastructure projects include fast-tracking the A20 and A26-Ost highways, building Hamburg’s new Köhlbrandbrücke and speeding up planning and approval processes.
- Ploß will oversee a new national tourism strategy focused on economic growth, sustainability, digitalization and expanded rail and air connections.