German defense minister ‘preparing to step down’

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Christine Lambrecht, Germany’s defense minister, has decided to step down from her post, according to reports from several major national media outlets.

Bild daily, which published the first report on the move, said the resignation plan came from Lambrecht herself, not from the chancellery.

Separately, daily Sueddeutsche said the minister, who is from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic party, is looking to step down next week.

The NTV news channel, Rolling, added that a search is underway within the Social Democratic Party for an alternative to the 57-year-old.

Contacted by Agence France-Presse, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense declined to comment on “rumours”.

The RND news media group had previously reported that Lambrecht would host her US counterpart Lloyd Austin for talks on Thursday — a meeting not confirmed by a German Defense Ministry spokesperson.

The two are then due on Friday to join other defense ministers from Ukraine’s allies at the US air base in Ramstein to coordinate military aid to the conflict-stricken country.

Ms. Lambrecht recently came under fire for a video she posted on social media in which she spoke of a year that ended with “war raging in the middle of Europe”.

Against the backdrop of exploding fireworks during chaotic New Year’s celebrations in Berlin, Ms. Lambrecht said the war in Ukraine had led to “many special experiences” and the chance for “many encounters with wonderful and interesting people”.

The letter was criticized by Germany’s leading media, with some commentators saying she was “no longer fit to serve as minister”.

Critics have also questioned its ability to lead Europe’s largest economy in reviving its long-neglected armed forces in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ms. Lambrecht, along with Mr. Schultz, has come under fire for Germany’s response to the conflict.

The minister was ridiculed in January 2022 for announcing that Germany would send 5,000 helmets to Kyiv, as the Ukrainian government was seeking heavy weapons to fend off Moscow.

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