German defense minister resigns over criticism from Ukraine

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Berlin

Germany’s much-criticized defense minister announced her resignation on Monday after a series of missteps as her department spearheads the country’s massive military modernization project and oversees the expansion of arms deliveries to Germany. Ukraine.

Christine Lambrecht said in a written statement that she had tendered her resignation to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding that months of media attention on my person had prevented a factual debate about Germany’s military and security policy.

The valuable work of soldiers and many people in my department must be front and center, she said.

Scholz thanked Lambrecht for his work in difficult times, saying he had great respect for his decision.

He immediately declined to say who would replace her but indicated that would happen soon.

The new minister will quickly be immersed in the heart of the matter in his new post. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is due to visit Berlin this week and then hold a meeting of allies at Ramstein Air Base in western Germany. On Sunday, the German and French governments will hold bilateral talks which will include a meeting of the countries’ joint security council.

I know from my point of view how things should go and we will also announce that in due course, said Scholz.

A government spokeswoman, Christiane Hoffmann, said earlier on Monday that it was important for Scholz to ensure gender parity among ministers, but declined to comment on the possibility of a broader cabinet reshuffle.

Lambrecht, 57, has been defense minister since Scholz became chancellor in December 2021. Critics have long described her as outdated. But Scholz backed her up, describing her last month as a first-class defense minister. The pressure on her has been mounting recently after a misjudged New Year’s Eve video message.

Lambrecht’s resignation comes at a sensitive time as Scholz faces growing pressure to take another significant step forward in German military aid to Ukraine by agreeing to deliver Leopard 2 main battle tanks. this month, Germany agreed to supply 40 Marder armored personnel carriers and a Patriot air defense missile battery to Kyiv.

Germany has provided substantial support to Ukraine in recent months, including howitzers, Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and the first of four IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems. But critics, some within Germany’s governing coalition, have long complained about Scholz’s perceived reluctance to step up aid. Lambrecht was overshadowed on the issue by the Chancellor, who made most of the important announcements.

Lambrecht was then deputy finance minister, Scholz, before being appointed justice minister in 2019. She also served as family and women minister in the final months of Chancellor Angela Merkels’ government.

She was respected in these roles but was widely seen as one of the weakest links in the Scholz government at the Ministry of Defence.

The notoriously unwieldy department has a history of diminishing the reputation of ministers.

Its importance increased with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. That prompted Scholz to announce a special fund of 100 billion euros ($108 billion) to modernize Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, which has suffered from years of neglect and in particular aging and poorly functioning equipment.

Last month, Lambrecht dismissed suggestions that the government had been too slow to launch its spending campaign. She said officials acted quickly but such projects need to be carefully negotiated, it’s tax money.

The minister also drew criticism for unfortunate communication, starting with an announcement in January 2022 that Germany would deliver 5,000 military helmets to Ukraine as a very clear signal that we are on your side.

In April, she took her 21-year-old son on a military helicopter flight, which became public knowledge when he posted a photo on Instagram which turned out the minister had taken herself. Her department said she sought permission and paid the fees herself, but critics said it showed poor judgment.

An amateur New Year’s video message on his own private Instagram account sparked fresh calls from the opposition for Lambrecht to leave and tested the patience of political allies.

It showed a barely audible Lambrecht speaking against the backdrop of loud New Year’s Eve fireworks on a Berlin street.

A war is raging in the middle of Europe, she says. And related to that for me, there were a lot of special impressions that I was able to gain from many, many meetings with interesting and great people.

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