Pistorius takes over for Lambrecht – this is the new German defense minister

Germany

Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Boris Pistorius becomes the new Federal Defense Minister. The 62-year-old succeeds Christine Lambrecht, who announced her resignation on Monday. Pistorius is a member of the SPD party executive and is considered an experienced political manager.

In the past few years, Pistorius has gained a reputation as a knowledgeable specialist politician among the interior ministers of the federal and state governments. Even though he always stayed in Lower Saxony, he was also involved in the internal political positioning of the federal SPD in election campaigns and coalition negotiations.

Pistorius was previously considered a potential successor to Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.Image: dpa / Matthias Balk

At the conferences of interior ministers, Pistorius, who is considered to be pragmatic, was always visibly pleased arguing openly with conservatives like former Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU), quick-witted, with pointed remarks, but never disrespectful.

Perhaps Pistorius’ age also makes him the ideal candidate for the post of defense minister. At the age of 62, a politician can finally move into the executive office in the Bendlerblock, which is generally regarded as an ejection seat and therefore a potential career killer.

First federal post for Pistorius

Pistorius was repeatedly said to have ambitions for a political office at the federal level. For example, there were rumors that he could become Federal Minister of the Interior if Nancy Faeser state election in Hesse as the top candidate for the SPD starts.

Pistorius completed an apprenticeship as a wholesale and foreign trade merchant. From 1980 to 1981 he completed his military service, after which he studied law in Osnabrück and Münster. Pistorius has been Minister of the Interior in Lower Saxony since 2013, and his third term began a few months ago. Before that he was mayor of Osnabrück from 2006 to 2013. Pistorius is widowed and has two daughters.

Christine Lambrecht justified her resignation with the media concentration on her person, among other things. Image: dpa / Philipp Schulze

Pistorius takes on posts in stormy times

The new minister faces major challenges. In view of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the armed forces set up again. The government has already granted her a special fund of 100 billion euros for this. The wise implementation of this capital investment is also the responsibility of the Secretary of Defense.

The president of the reservists’ association, Patrick Sensburg, had formulated clear demands on Christine Lambrecht’s successor on Monday – even before it was announced that Pistorius would be the new defense minister.

“For 30 years we’ve only learned to argue why something doesn’t work, why we can’t do something, why the Bundeswehr is shrinking,” he said. “We have enough papers, fighting power must be there.” In order to make the Bundeswehr strong in combat, the 100 billion euro special fund for the Bundeswehr must be implemented quickly. Material and weapon systems would have to arrive quickly. The troops need clarity about the investments “so that they can plan.”

(nik / with material from dpa)