Germany's much-criticized defence minister announced her resignation on Monday, as her department steers the massive project of modernising the country's military and oversees expanding weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
Christine Lambrecht said in a written statement that she had submitted her resignation request to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding that “months of media focus on my person” had stood in the way of a factual debate about the military and Germany's security policy.
“The valuable work of the soldiers and many people in my department must stand in the foreground,” she said.
A spokesperson for Scholz said the chancellor had accepted Lambrecht's resignation.
“The chancellor respects the decision by Ms. Lambrecht and thanks her for her good work in these difficult and challenging times," Christiane Hoffmann told reporters in Berlin.
She said a replacement would be announced “soon.”
Hoffmann added that it was important to Scholz to ensure gender parity among ministers, but declined to comment on a possibility of a wider Cabinet reshuffle.
The 57-year-old Lambrecht has been defence minister since Scholz became chancellor in December 2021.
Critics have long portrayed her as out of her depth. But Scholz stood by her, describing her last month as “a first-class defence minister.”
Pressure on her mounted recently after an ill-judged New Year's video message.
Lambrecht's resignation comes at a sensitive moment, as Scholz faces mounting pressure to make another significant step forward in German military aid to Ukraine by agreeing to deliver Leopard 2 battle tanks.
Earlier this month, Germany agreed to provide 40 Marder armoured personnel carriers and a Patriot air defence missile battery to Kyiv.
Germany has given Ukraine substantial support in recent months, including howitzers, Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and the first of four IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems.
But critics, some inside Germany's governing coalition, have long complained of Scholz's perceived hesitancy to step up aid. Lambrecht was overshadowed on the issue by the chancellor, who made most major announcements.
Lambrecht was then Finance Minister Scholz's deputy before being appointed justice minister in 2019.