Germany appoints Boris Pistorius as defence minister after Christine Lambrecht resigns
- Pistorius, unknown on world stage, is interior minister of Lower Saxony state; last year he was forthright about Ukraine’s right to recapture territories taken by Russia
- He inherits task of steering Germany’s military modernisation project and overseeing expansion of weapon deliveries to Kyiv
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday he will appoint a regional official as the new defence minister following the resignation of the much-criticised Christine Lambrecht.
The defence minister-designate, Boris Pistorius, is an unknown on the world stage but an experienced politician with credentials in security and a history of straight talking. He is a member of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SDP) and has served as interior minister of Lower Saxony state since 2013.
“I am very pleased to have won Boris Pistorius, an outstanding politician from our country, for the post of defence minister,” Scholz said in a written statement.
Pistorius is inheriting the job of steering Germany’s military modernisation project and overseeing expanding weapon deliveries to Ukraine amid Russia’s war.
“Pistorius is an extremely experienced politician who has administrative experience, has been involved in security policy for years and, with his competence, assertiveness and big heart, is exactly the right person to lead the Bundeswehr through this change of era,” the chancellor said.
Pistorius, 62, is expected to receive his certificate of appointment from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and take his oath of office in parliament on Thursday, said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.