German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that he will appoint a regional official as the country’s new Defense Minister following the resignation of Christine Lambrecht.
Scholz intends to appoint Boris Pistorius to act in Lambrecht’s stead.
The Defense Minister-designate, Boris Pistorius, is a member of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party and has served as Interior Minister of Lower Saxony state since 2013.
“I am very pleased to have won Boris Pistorius, an outstanding politician from our country, for the post of defense minister,” Scholz remarked in a statement.
“Pistorius is an extremely experienced politician who has administrative experience, has been involved in security policy for years and, with his competence, assertiveness and big heart, he’s exactly the right person to lead the Bundeswehr through this change of era.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Government Spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit disclosed that Pistorius, 62, is scheduled to receive his certificate of appointment from German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and take his oath of office in parliament on Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Following Lambrecht’s resignation, Chancellor Olaf Scholz consulted closely with the members of his party and parliamentary group leaders and decided on Pistorius as the new Defense Minister, Hebestreit divulged in a written statement.
Christine Lambrecht announced her resignation from the post as Defense Minister on Monday. Lambrecht said in a written statement that she had submitted her resignation to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“The valuable work of the soldiers and many people in my department must stand in the foreground,” Lambrecht added.
Designated Defense Minister’s Remarks
Later on Tuesday, the Defense Minister-designate, Boris Pistorius, thanked the Chancellor for his nomination and said it is “truly an extraordinary honor for me to take on this office.”
“I know the importance of the task in these times. The tasks that lie ahead of the troops are enormous … I want to make the Bundeswehr strong for the times that lie ahead.”
Boris Pistorius
Pistorius is inheriting the job of directing Germany’s military modernization project and overseeing expanding weapons deliveries to Ukraine amid Russia’s war.
Also, Pistorius is getting quickly thrown into the deep end of his new position. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit Berlin this week and then host a meeting of allies at Ramstein Air Base in western Germany.
On Sunday, the German and French governments are expected to hold bilateral talks that include a meeting of the countries’ joint security council.
The German government has faced mounting pressure to make another significant step forward in German military aid to Ukraine by agreeing to deliver Leopard 2 battle tanks.
On Monday, Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki called for the German government to supply a wide range of weapons to Kyiv and expressed his hope that Germany would soon approve a transfer of battle tanks to strengthen Ukraine’s defense against Russian forces in the war.
Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, a member of Germany’s Greens party, welcomed Scholz’ choice of Pistorius. He pointed out that the job comes with a lot of responsibility, especially after Russia’s attack on Ukraine almost a year ago.
“Germany, as part of the European Union and NATO, must be ready to defend itself and strengthen its defense capability, in close cooperation with its partners. There are also important decisions to be made in the short term, in particular the pressing question of how we continue to support Ukraine in its right to self-defense.”
Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck
Pistorius completed his military service from 1980 to 1981, then studied law in the western German towns of Osnabrueck and Muenster.
Before being appointed Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, Pistorius served as Mayor of Osnabrueck from 2006 to 2013.
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