“Today I asked the Chancellor to be released from the role of defence minister,” Lambrecht said in a statement, according to a CNBC translation.
Her stepdown comes as Germany mulls whether to approve an increase in military support to Ukraine in order to help Kiev against Russia.
“The focus from the media over months on my person hardly allows for objective reporting and discussion about the soldiers, the armed forces and the course for security policy in the interest of Germany’s citizens,” Lambrecht said.
“The valuable work of the soldiers and the many motivated people in the industry needs to be at the forefront. I therefore decided to make my post available,” she added. “I thank everyone who engages themselves for our security every day and sincerely wish them the best of luck for the future.”
Lambrecht, a senior lawmaker in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, had faced sustained pressure over her credibility to lead the country’s armed forces.
Multiple media outlets reported over the weekend that Lambrecht’s resignation could be imminent, following a series of missteps.
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has formally submitted her resignation from the government position, German news agency dpa reported on Monday.
ReplyDeleteThe minister formally appealed to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and asked for her resignation, the news agency said, adding that the relevant document was handed over earlier in the day.