German Chancellor Accepts Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht's Resignation

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (back) with Christine Lambrecht. (Wikimedia Commons/AKYV)

JAKARTA - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has accepted the resignation of Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, Deputy Government spokesman Christiane Hoffmann said at a briefing on Monday.

"The Chancellor respects Lambrecht's decision and thanks her for the great work she is doing in these complicated and challenging times," Hoffmann said, as reported by TASS on January 16.

"The chancellor will soon present her proposals to the president regarding a potential successor," Hoffmann continued.

When asked if Scholz had accepted the minister's resignation, he confirmed it emphatically.

While citing Reuters, during a visit to arms manufacturer Hensoldt, Scholz thanked Lambrecht for her service, saying he would act quickly to find a replacement for Lambrecht.

"I have a clear idea and soon it will be known to everyone how this should proceed," he told reporters.

A spokesperson for the German defense ministry who was also present at the event explained that Lambrecht would remain as the country's defense minister until receiving a letter of dismissal from the president. It remains unclear when this will happen, he added.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported on Monday, citing a German government source, that Lambrecht's replacement name would be announced on Tuesday.

Among the candidates named by the German media is Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Hoegl, Junior Defense Minister Siemtje Moeller, SPD party chairman Lars Klingbeil, and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil.

Chancellor Scholz has promised to organize his cabinet with an equal number of men and women. If a man were to replace Lambrecht, this could result in a reshuffle of the cabinet.

As previously reported, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht resigned from Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government on Monday, amid criticism and pressure.

"Today I asked the chancellor to remove me from the post of federal secretary of defense," Lambrecht, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), said in a statement.

Lambrecht's resignation comes at a sensitive time, as Scholz faces increasing pressure to make a significant step forward in German military aid to Ukraine by agreeing to deliver the Leopard 2 battle tank.