Weak or wily Angela and Andrej

In Germany, the nomination of Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to head the EU Commission hasn't been received well by some, and Angela Merkel is facing a threat by her Social Democratic partner to leave the government. In Czechia, the nomination of Michal Šmarda to head the culture ministry hasn't been received well by some, and Andrej Babiš is facing a threat by his Social Democratic partner to leave the government. In both cases, the head of the cabinet is said by detractors to be weak. If their governments did indeed fall apart because of staffing ineptitudes, this would be a valid assessment. But it ain't over till the fat lady sings, and both leaders can still upstage their critics. What if Merkel gave the defense ministry to SPD, for example, and Babiš gave another ministry to ČSSD? Merkel would get her own puppet atop the EU, and Babiš would prevent the puppet of his arch-rivals from joining the cabinet. Would this make them weak? More like wily.