Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, weakened by a series of mistakes, announced her resignation to Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a press statement on Monday.
The name of his or her successor is not yet known.
“The media’s focus on me for months hardly allows for factual reporting and discussion about the soldiers, the Bundeswehr and the security policy decisions in the interests of the German citizens,” complains Christine Lambrecht in her statement.
In this context, “I asked the Chancellor today to release me from my duties as Defense Minister,” she added.
In her opinion, “the valuable work of the soldiers and the many motivated people must be in the foreground”, since Germany wants to invest 100 billion euros in the modernization of its army after the war in Ukraine.
This resignation comes at a time when Germany is under renewed pressure to supply tanks to Ukraine.
A meeting of Western allies around the United States will take place at the American base in Ramstein on Friday. On this occasion, a new aid for the Russian-occupied Ukraine should be announced.
Ms. Lambrecht, 57, the Social Democrat justice minister in Angela Merkel’s previous coalition government, has made mistakes since the war in Ukraine began on February 24.
She had drawn criticism from Kyiv by announcing the delivery of 5,000 helmets when Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s regime demanded heavy weapons.
A video in which she presented her vows at the beginning of January had also brought her ridicule and criticism.
There the minister appeared in the middle of Berlin, tousled by gusts of wind, and between two bangs and firecrackers reminded of the war in Ukraine, particularly popular with Germans to celebrate the New Year.
“A war is raging in the middle of Europe. I was able to draw a lot of special impressions from it,” the minister said about the Russian invasion and caused “many, many encounters with interesting and impressive people”. “I say a big thank you for that.”