"Ukraine War Audit"... German Defense Minister Who Made a Gaffe Ultimately Resigns

Christine Lambrecht, German Minister of Defense [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Christine Lambrecht, the German Defense Minister who sparked controversy over inappropriate remarks related to the Ukraine war, resigned on the 16th (local time).

On the same day, Minister Lambrecht announced on her social media account that she had requested dismissal from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. She said, "Media coverage focused on me personally has made substantive discussions about soldiers, the Bundeswehr, and security policy for German citizens almost impossible," adding, "Therefore, I have decided to resign from my ministerial position."

She continued, "The efforts of soldiers and those motivated in this field should be at the center of discussions," expressing her gratitude to those who work daily for our safety and sincerely wishing them all the best in the future.

The main reason behind Lambrecht’s decision to resign appears to be to end the controversy surrounding her and to protect the Bundeswehr from further disputes.

Previously, Minister Lambrecht faced criticism for inappropriate remarks related to the Ukraine war. On the 1st, she posted a video on her social media account summarizing 2022 and delivering New Year greetings.

In the video, she said, "There is a war raging in the heart of Europe," and added, "(The war) left a special impression on me, and I was able to meet many interesting and wonderful people. I sincerely thank them." Meanwhile, fireworks celebrating the New Year exploded and rockets flew with loud noises in the background of the video as she delivered her greetings.

As the controversial video spread, criticism surged within Germany. It was seen as a reckless act to talk about positive impressions of the Ukraine war against a backdrop of fireworks reminiscent of war.

In addition, Minister Lambrecht was also criticized for holding the defense industry accountable after numerous defects were found in the German Puma armored vehicle, known as the world’s most expensive armored vehicle costing over 20 billion won each.

As Lambrecht’s successor, candidates mentioned include Lars Klingbeil, leader of the Social Democratic Party, Eva H?gl, Defense Commissioner, Hubertus Heil, Minister of Labor from the Social Democratic Party, Andrea Nahles, former leader of the Social Democratic Party, and Siemtje M?ller, Deputy Minister of Defense. However, German foreign media such as ZDF reported that since Chancellor Scholz plans to form a cabinet with gender parity, it is unlikely that a male candidate will be appointed as minister.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.