In the video distributed on Instagram over the weekend, Lambrecht takes stock of the year 2022, but her words are repeatedly lost in the whistling of rockets and exploding firecrackers. The year presented us all with incredible challenges, says Lambrecht. And: “A war is raging in the middle of Europe. And that meant a lot of special impressions for me that I was able to gain. Many, many encounters with interesting, great people.”
The German government declined to comment on the video on Monday. “I now see no reason to evaluate this,” said deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann. A Defense Department spokesman said the video was privately recorded and did not use Department resources. When asked if filming was an appropriate way to welcome the New Year given the war in Ukraine, he said: “The Minister’s words in the video speak for themselves. It is not for me to comment on that.”
The chairwoman of the defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), distanced herself: “The New Year’s video in question is a matter for the minister and her communications staff. I personally find the setting a bit unfortunate. I do not want to say more.”
“What an embarrassment”
The reaction of the opposition was less gracious. The CDU defense politician Serap Güler suggested Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to dismiss Lambrecht. The parliamentary group vice president of the Union, Johann Wadephul, told the editorial network Germany (RND): “The video clearly shows again that she is the wrong person in this central office – and that in these times of war in Europe.”
The CDU politician Armin Laschet – who, as a candidate for chancellor, was himself heavily criticized with a laugh in the flood area – pointed out on Twitter that Lambrecht’s Instagram appearance also caused astonishment abroad: “Is the chancellor actually the effect of Germany in Europe and the world don’t care at all?” The CSU defense expert Florian Hahn wrote: “This video speaks for itself. What an embarrassment, what a mistake.” The CDU member of the Bundestag Matthias Hauer had already tweeted on Sunday that “the performance of the minister in 2022” was even worse than Lambrecht’s speech. For 2023 he sees “a lot of room for improvement”.
Malfunction with Puma tank
For some time now, Lambrecht has been criticized more than other ministers in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cabinet. Most recently, a breakdown during exercises with the Puma infantry fighting vehicle caused an uproar. Two weeks ago it became known that all 18 of the tanks used during a firing exercise by the Bundeswehr for participation in the VJTF NATO intervention force had failed. The tracked vehicle, plagued by numerous technical problems, was only declared fit for combat in 2021.
Lambrecht then put the planned replacement purchase of the combat vehicle on hold and decided at the beginning of the year not to equip the soldiers of the Bundeswehr with the modern Puma, but with the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, which had been in use for the NATO intervention force for decades. A spokesman for Puma manufacturer Rheinmetall announced on Monday that “out of 18 vehicles, 17 are driving again. (…) The assessment of the vehicles was completed at the end of last week, almost all the damage was trivial.”
The Union in the Bundestag nevertheless complained about the sluggish clarification of the recent failures of the infantry fighting vehicle. “If you are wondering about current deficiencies in the Bundeswehr, you can say: The fish stinks from the head,” said CSU defense expert Hahn of the “Welt” (Monday edition). After the opposition, the Greens also called for faster clarification and more transparency towards the Bundestag. “Having a plan is good. Nevertheless, we would like to know very soon what the problem was – and not have to collect set pieces from the troops and the press,” said Sara Nanni, leader of the Greens parliamentary group in the Defense Committee.
Question mark behind F-35 deal
The purchase of 35 state-of-the-art US F-35 fighter jets for an amount of almost ten billion euros, which was pushed through in mid-December, also leaves many questions unanswered. Experts from the Ministry of Defense had previously warned of possible risks and cost increases. This concerned, for example, the necessary conversion of airfields for the F-35 and possible technical problems with the approval of the fighter jets for flight operations.
The “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (“FAZ”) wrote: “Perhaps the speed of the appointment is also due to the fact that the damaged minister urgently needed a presentable success. So far, Lambrecht had hardly managed to get the 100 billion bond for the rehabilitation of the Bundeswehr into procurements or at least orders from the armaments industry. Even their own traffic light coalition members complained about this. With the rapid transfer of ten billion to American accounts, Lambrecht’s annual balance sheet now looks a little better.”
son in the helicopter
Lambrecht made negative headlines on another level in April of the previous year. She took her 21-year-old son with her in the government helicopter to a visit to the troops in northern Germany, without him attending the military appointment. The next day and after an overnight stay in a hotel, the car and bodyguards drove to the nearby island of Sylt. Lambrecht’s son published photos of himself in the helicopter on Instagram – criticism followed immediately.
Lambrecht later admitted that she would no longer be doing the flight today. However, she did not see any illegal behavior. “The flight was in full compliance with all rules and regulations and I fully paid for my son’s expenses – today I would decide differently.”
calls for resignation
So far it has been considered unlikely that Chancellor Scholz could dismiss the minister without a major plan for a cabinet reshuffle, but after the New Year’s Eve video the pressure is growing enormously. “With this video, the minister reveals a lack of empathy that leaves you stunned. Therefore, this misstep outweighs other actual or perceived mishaps. (…) Lambrecht has to apologize for this – or leave her important office to others,” commented the ARD.
The “Tagesspiegel” wrote: “Lambrecht’s ministry is facing a huge task. How is it supposed to credibly manage the ‘turning point’ that is a direct consequence of the Russian attack? And who will be able to take the minister seriously on the international stage after this performance? There have long been doubts about Lambrecht’s suitability for the post. Now it’s time for the chancellor to take action.” The magazine “Cicero” commented similarly online: “Lambrecht seems finally burned out in office. It is probably time to finally protect the SPD politician from herself. And the dignity of the office as well.”
