- German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht resigns.
- German media reported on Friday evening that the SPD politician wanted to resign.
- Critics had recently criticized Lambrecht for the sluggish start of procurement for the Bundeswehr or a lack of expertise, but also for her appearance in public.
Christine Lambrecht had asked Chancellor Olaf Scholz to be dismissed, said a statement by the minister, which the German Press Agency received from the Ministry of Defense on Monday. “The media focus on my person for months hardly allows factual reporting and discussion about the soldiers, the Bundeswehr and security policy decisions in the interests of the citizens of Germany,” writes Lambrecht accordingly. “The valuable work of the servicewomen and men and the many motivated people in the business area must be in the foreground. That’s why I decided to make my position available.” She thanks everyone “who is committed to our safety every day and wishes them all the best for the future”.
Legend:
According to the German Press Agency, Christine Lambrecht has asked Chancellor Olaf Scholz to be dismissed.
Keystone/EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
As early as Friday evening, several media reported unanimously that Lambrecht was about to withdraw from her ministerial post. The 57-year-old has been criticized for months, the opposition union of the CDU and CSU had repeatedly called for her resignation. Critics accused her of the sluggish start of procurement for the Bundeswehr or a lack of expertise, but also her appearance in public. A photo of her son traveling in a Bundeswehr helicopter made negative headlines. She recently caused irritation with a New Year’s message spread on Instagram, in which she spoke about the Ukraine war accompanied by New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Scholz has to fill a central position
This means that a central post in the traffic light cabinet must now be filled by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The Ministry of Defense has also come into focus as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. In mid-December, Scholz defended his defense minister against criticism. “The Bundeswehr has a first-class defense minister,” Scholz told the Süddeutsche Zeitung at the time. “I can only wonder about some of the criticism.”
Lambrecht took over the Ministry of Defense with the start of the traffic light government at the end of 2021. Before that, she was Minister of Justice in Angela Merkel’s last cabinet, and after Franziska Giffey’s resignation, she also headed the Ministry for Family Affairs. Lambrecht is the second minister to resign from office since the start of the traffic light government.