Federal Government
Wadephul on Pistorius: Initiatives have failed so far
Criticism from Johann Wadephul (CDU): Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) gives crisp interviews, but his initiatives and ideas have failed so far. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Boris Pistorius has been Federal Defense Minister for a year. Although he is Germany’s most popular politician according to surveys, there is now criticism from Union parliamentary group vice-president Wadephul.
Union parliamentary group vice-president Johann Wadephul is Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) issued a negative balance for his first year in office. “Pistorius has failed so far in his initiatives and ideas,” Wadephul told the Editorial Network Germany (RND). This applies to Pistorius’ demand for a higher defense budget and the “repeated flirtation with a reintroduction of compulsory military service,” said the CDU politician. “Every time it was a matter of crisply presented interviews – which were then rather brusquely cleared away by the Chancellor, the SPD party or parliamentary group leaders.”
In Wadephul’s opinion, too little has happened in terms of procurement and changing structures in the Bundeswehr during Pistorius’ term as defense minister.
Wadephul admitted that the minister had arrived in office “very quickly”. “Right from the start, he struck the right tone with the soldiers, which is very, very good for the troops. And he told the public with welcome clarity what the security policy situation is, what that means for the Bundeswehr and that ours “The whole country has to face defense issues,” said the CDU politician.
Polls: Pistorius is Germany’s most popular politician
The public sees it differently, as Pistorius was recently clearly ahead in surveys of the most popular politicians. According to a survey from the beginning of January, almost two thirds of people in Germany would like to see a change as chancellor from Olaf Scholz to Pistorius. According to 64 percent in a survey conducted by the polling institute Insa for “Bild”, he should replace Scholz at the top of the government in the legislative period that runs until 2025.
Pistorius was appointed Defense Minister on January 19, 2023 after the resignation of Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD). He previously held the office of Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister.