Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht officially handed in her resignation on Monday.
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German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht tendered her resignation on Monday amid scrutiny of Berlin’s response to the war in Ukraine.
“Today I asked the Chancellor to be relieved of the role of Secretary of Defense,” Lambrecht said in a statement, according to a CNBC translation.
Her resignation comes as Germany mulls over whether to agree to an increase in military support to Ukraine to help Kiev’s forces prevail against the Russian onslaught.
“The media’s focus on me for months hardly allows for factual reporting and discussion about the soldiers, the Bundeswehr and the security policy course in the interests of the citizens,” said Lambrecht.
“The valuable work of the soldiers and the many motivated people in the industry must be in the foreground. That’s why I decided to make my post available,” she added. “I would like to thank everyone who works every day to ensure our safety and I wish them all the best for the future.”
Lambrecht, a senior MP in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, has faced ongoing 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 after a series of missteps.
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— CNBC’s Sophie Kiderlin contributed to this report.