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Olaf Scholz: “I have worked well and happily with Christine Lambrecht for many, many years”
Photo: THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP
The post at the head of the military department is to be filled after the resignation of Christine Lambrecht (SPD).
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has now commented on the restructuring in his cabinet.
However, he left the question of the minister's successor open for the time being.
"I have worked well and happily with Christine Lambrecht for many, many years," said Scholz during a visit to the Hensoldt armaments company.
Even after Russia's terrible war of aggression in Ukraine, Lambrecht worked with enormous commitment to ensure that "paths that had been trampled on for decades were left" and that the start was managed.
"I have great respect for her decision," said Scholz.
He expressly thanks Lambrecht for the work she has done for Germany.
Scholz remained vague in his statements as to who would succeed Lambrecht in the ministry.
"I have a clear idea," said Scholz simply.
This will "become known to everyone very quickly".
The Ministry of Defense and the Bundeswehr deserved that this be clarified quickly.
"I know how I think things should continue."
Scholz had previously called Russia's attack on Ukraine a "fundamental breach" of decades-old rules, according to which no borders are forcibly moved.
Support Ukraine with very powerful weapons.
Scholz cited the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and the anti-aircraft tank Gepard as well as the Iris-T and Patriot systems as examples.
You need an efficient industry that is able to meet the military needs for national defense.
Scholz did not address the question of whether Germany would supply main battle tanks to Ukraine.
This demand arose after the German government announced that it would make Marder infantry fighting vehicles available to the Ukrainian armed forces.
"Big thanks" from SPD boss Klingbeil
Lambrecht's resignation had already been announced in the past few days.
The SPD politician made the move official on Monday morning.
From the traffic light there was respect for the minister's resignation from her post.
"I think it's a decision that was not easy for Mrs. Lambrecht," said Vice Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck.
"And secondly, it shows the pressure she is under, but also how she then tries to keep harm away from the office." Lambrecht certainly had the right to reform the Bundeswehr.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil made a similar statement.
He thanked Lambrecht for her work.
Lambrecht took over the Ministry of Defense in an exceptional foreign and security policy situation, said Klingbeil.
"Together with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, she made sure that we can finally bring the Bundeswehr back up to speed with the 100 billion euro special fund." Soldiers, for example, or the financial leeway for the commanders on site«.
Lambrecht deserves "great thanks" for this and also respect for her decision.
FDP warns of "hanging game" when looking for a successor
According to the spokesman for the Defense Ministry, Lambrecht will continue in office until a successor is named.
The FDP nevertheless urged hurry.
"A hanging game would be bad for Germany," said FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai.
The SPD has the right to propose the post - he is sure that the party "will now use the time very intensively to propose a suitable and suitable personality," said Djir-Sarai.
The FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is also pushing for a quick succession plan.
"I now expect the Social Democrats to name a successor as soon as possible," said the chair of the Bundestag's defense committee to the newspapers of the Funke media group.
As prerequisites for the office, Strack-Zimmermann named assertiveness in the ministry and “above all understanding and heart for the soldiers”.
The open decision on the leadership of the Ministry of Defense is also causing concern in the opposition.
"We now need clarity and competence for the Bundeswehr quickly," said CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja.
The troops must know who is leading them.
For the upcoming armaments projects and the decisions about possible tank deliveries to Ukraine, a quick successor is needed.
The defense policy spokesman for the Union faction, Florian Hahn, sees the military commissioner Eva Högl (SPD) as a suitable successor for the outgoing Minister Lambrecht.
"In the replacement, affinity to the troops, a high level of commitment and certain previous experience must play the decisive role," wrote the CSU politician on Twitter.
"Eva Högl would be suitable, for example." He called for the successor to be arranged immediately and not to follow the "SPD proportional representation".
In addition to Högl, Chancellery Minister Wolfgang Schmidt, Social Affairs Minister Hubertus Heil, Lambrecht's Parliamentary State Secretary Siemtje Möller and SPD leader Klingbeil are possible candidates for Lambrecht's successor.
Depending on the selection of a successor, another cabinet reshuffle may be necessary.
At the beginning of his chancellorship, Scholz announced a cabinet with equal representation.
Since a woman is now leaving Lambrecht, a woman would have to move up.
ulz/asc/dpa
