Lambrecht said the incessant criticism in the media made it impossible for her to continue as minister. Critics accused her of incompetence and slowness in re-equipping the Bundeswehr.

Lambrecht said in a statement released Monday, Jan. 16, that she had submitted a petition to that effect to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “The many months of media scrutiny of my identity makes it almost impossible to have a businesslike information and discussion about the military, the Bundeswehr and the prioritization of security policy for the interests of German citizens. The valuable work of the military and the many motivated people in public circles must remain in the foreground. That is why I have made the decision to leave my post,” the 57-year-old Lambrecht explained, according to dw.com

German media reported about Christine Lambrecht’s intention to step down as German Defense Minister as early as the evening of January 13. Lambrecht has been under fire from critics for months. The opposition Christian Democrats accuse her of incompetence, slowness in re-equipping the Bundeswehr and unsuccessful public appearances.

Lambrecht has been at the center of several media scandals

As head of the German Ministry of Defense, she was repeatedly caught up in media scandals. Most recently because of a New Year’s greeting, which the German media recognized as unsuccessful. Christine Lambrecht recorded a congratulatory video message in which she mentioned the war in Ukraine, standing against the background of exploding fireworks and trying to shout them. The publication of a photo of Lambrecht’s son in a service helicopter also caused a scandal. Judging by social surveys, the minister is unpopular in Germany. Thus, in particular, according to a poll conducted by the TV channel ZDF, 60 percent of Germans would support the decision on her resignation. Before heading the Defense Ministry in December 2022, she was Minister of Justice in the last cabinet of Angela Merkel (Angela Merkel), and c 2021 simultaneously served as Minister for Family, Women and Youth. Meanwhile, back in December 2022, Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly defended Lambrecht against criticism, saying that “the Bundeswehr has a first-class minister” and he was “surprised by some of the criticism against her.”