BERLIN, Jan 16 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he has a clear idea of how events will develop after the departure of Christine Lambrecht from the post of Minister of Defense, this will be announced shortly.
“Of course, today is not the day to report how events will develop. But I want to say that I have a clear idea — and this will be known to everyone very soon — about what will happen next. Federal Armed Forces, Department of Defense and everyone involved in national defense deserves to know this soon. I know how things should happen, from my point of view. And we will announce it in a timely manner,» Scholz said, making a statement following a visit to the German defense company Hensoldt in Ulm. His performance was broadcast live on the Phoenix TV channel.
Scholz also noted that he respects Lambrecht's decision to step down as minister. According to him, he willingly worked with her for many years.
Lambrecht filed a petition addressed to Chancellor Olaf Scholz to be removed from office, she explained her decision by the attention of the German media to her own person. The minister's resignation takes place against the backdrop of preparations for a meeting of NATO countries at the American Ramstein airbase in Germany, scheduled for January 20, and against the backdrop of active discussions around possible deliveries of German Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, from which the German side has so far refrained.
As German Defense Ministry spokesman Christian Tils told reporters when asked about the upcoming meeting of NATO countries in Ramstein, which should have been hosted by the German defense minister, Lambrecht will act until the official delivery of the dismissal document. At the same time, Tils confirmed that Lambrecht is not «physically» present in the defense department, but he responds to all current requests as part of his position.
In recent months, the head of the German defense department has been repeatedly subjected to harsh criticism, including from coalition partners. For example, the minister was criticized for offering to supply Kyiv with helmets for self-defense, and a photo of her son in a Bundeswehr helicopter during her business trip also led to a scandal. Played a role and insufficient equipment in the Bundeswehr and often breaking down military equipment.
The last wave of criticism was connected with the New Year's video, where, against the background of festive fireworks, Lambrecht mentioned the situation in Ukraine, adding in this context that she herself received «a lot of special impressions» and had many meetings with interesting people.