According to Bild, the first newspaper to report on Lambrecht’s exit from the government, this resignation is a personal decision of the minister, without being imposed by the chancellery led by Olaf Scholz.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that Christine Lambrecht, 57, a member of the same Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, should leave office next week.
And the NTV channel adds that a successor to the defense file is currently being sought within the Social Democratic Party.
Asked by Agence France-Presse (Agence France-Presse), the Ministry of Defense refused to comment on the “rumours”.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), in opposition, had already demanded her departure from the executive branch, after the minister sparked controversy in her New Year’s Eve speech about Ukraine.
The official said she had “many special impressions” thanks to the struggle. He also mentioned “many encounters with wonderful and interesting people,” adding, “For that I say thank you very much.”
The news channel Tagesshau quoted the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz, as saying: “Defense experts from all over the world are speechless in front of the shame and lack of professionalism of a minister in our country.”
The Defense Ministry also came under fire after the chair of the German parliament’s defense committee, Marie-Anes Strack-Zimmermann, pressured Olaf Schultz to deliver more tanks to Ukraine.
Already in January 2022, the minister was criticized for announcing that 5,000 helmets would be sent to Ukraine, which at the same time requires heavy weapons to protect itself from a possible conflict with Russia.
According to a recent Civey survey of 5,000 people, 77% of Germans support his departure, compared to only 13% who want him to continue.
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