Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has every reason to be happy that 2022 is finally behind her.
The SPD politician has been criticized since the start of the traffic light coalition: the modernization of the Bundeswehr is faltering, the armed forces are complaining about a lack of ammunition and defective Puma tanks, Lambrecht is accused of being haphazard and being overwhelmed.
The »turning point« is a long time coming in the Bundeswehr.
However, a New Year's message from the minister should ensure that the criticism does not subside in 2023 either.
War in Europe - and many "great people"
Lambrecht uploaded a video to Instagram in which she thanks the soldiers - but in the middle of the background noise of the Berlin evening sky: The minister can hardly be understood because of the whistling rockets and exploding firecrackers.
The wind ruffles her hair.
"A war is raging in the middle of Europe," says Lambrecht.
For her, many impressions and encounters “with interesting and great people” are associated with this.
You celebrate the turn of the year with family and friends.
"I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all those who cannot do this because they are on duty for us, as soldiers or police officers, in the hospital or in other areas," concludes the minister.
The unprofessional video is now causing ridicule and criticism online.
CDU politicians in particular interpret it as evidence that Lambrecht is unsuitable for the post of defense minister.
Ex-Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet takes up English-language criticism and asks: "Is the Chancellor actually completely indifferent to Germany's impact in Europe and the world?".
The Saxon CDU politician Paul Schäfer accuses Lambrecht of not having enough dignity for the office of minister: "With the thunder of the New Year's Eve rockets in the background, she tells something about the war in Europe and the great encounters she had in 2022."
And the member of the Bundestag Matthias Hauer reminds that the video was only the highlight of a desolate first year in office: "Even worse than the speech, however, is the performance of the minister in 2022."
So far there has been little support for the minister from the traffic light side on Twitter.
MPs from the SPD, FDP and Greens keep a low profile – or also use the video as a template for malice.
Green member Stephan Bischoff shares Lambrecht's core statement with a meme in front of a burning backdrop.
The Instagram video is likely to exacerbate the question of her suitability as a minister.
Most recently, it was criticized for a mass failure of German Puma infantry fighting vehicles.
SPIEGEL had revealed that all 18 Pumas deployed during exercises by Panzergrenadierbrigade 37 failed within a few days due to technical defects.
It is precisely those ultra-modern tanks with which Germany wanted to lead the NATO rapid reaction force at the beginning of 2023.
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