SPD leaders have reportedly considered a cabinet shuffle to fill the post of defense minister. Lauterbach was apparently also in the conversation at short notice.
Before the resignation of Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, there were apparently numerous considerations about a possible successor. As the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (FAZ) reports, citing informed circles, before the official announcement of his resignation, Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed a large number of options with the SPD party leadership, Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken, and the parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich.
As the newspaper reports, this included the option of castling in the cabinet in order to maintain parity between men and women. The idea is that one of the male ministers will move to the Ministry of Defence, and a woman will take over the vacant post – for Health Minister Karl Lauterbach or Labor Minister Hubertus Heil, for example.
“They laugh at us”
But according to the report, concerns prevailed. The FAZ reports on this with reference to sources within the SPD: “What would be the reason for Lauterbach as defense minister? That he is now defeating the Russians after Covid? ‘They are laughing at us,’ says one from the SPD.” Labor Minister Heil left because of his importance for the social democratic profile of the party.
The newspaper dates these considerations to January 15. The media had already reported on Lambrecht’s resignation two days earlier, and the SPD politician officially announced her departure the following day.
As the FAZ reports, the decision was made on the same day to search outside the cabinet. On January 17, it was announced that the former Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, Boris Pistorius (SPD), will take over the post.