Scholz on the new defense minister: Pistorius is someone “who can work with the troops”

The new Defense Minister, Pistorius, brings experience, calmness and strength. That’s why he chose him, explained Chancellor Scholz. Pistorius himself promised reforms that he wanted to implement together with the soldiers.

Olaf Scholz took his time for days – today the Chancellor presented Lower Saxony’s Minister of the Interior, Boris Pistorius, as the new Defense Minister. In a statement, Scholz said: “Boris Pistorius is not only a friend and a good politician, he also has a lot of experience in security policy.” The Lower Saxon would have the necessary strength and calm that you need in view of the turning point in time.

Scholz went on to say that he was convinced that the Bundeswehr would get along well with Pistorius. He is someone “who can work with the troops and who the soldiers will like very much”. Therefore he is very grateful that Pistorius said yes to the task.

“An extraordinarily great honor”

Shortly before Chancellor Scholz’s statement, Pistorius made a statement. The appointment as Minister of Defense was “an extremely great honor”. “I know the importance of the task,” he said. “It’s important to me to involve the soldiers very closely and take them with me.” Whenever necessary, he will stand in front of her.

Like Chancellor Scholz, Pistorius also thanked outgoing Minister Christine Lambrecht. You have provided the prelude to the necessary reorganization in the Bundeswehr.

Well connected in the SPD

Pistorius has been Lower Saxony’s Minister of the Interior and Sport since 2013, and his third term of office began a few months ago. Before that he was mayor of Osnabrück from 2006 to 2013. 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 in coalition negotiations.

The lawyer is considered to be well networked in the SPD and a minister for the difficult job of defense minister. 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.

He was repeatedly said to have ambitions for political office at the federal level. For example, there were rumors that he could become federal interior minister if Nancy Faeser ran as the top candidate for the SPD in the state elections in Hesse.

Lindner congratulates his “new cabinet colleague”

Finance Minister Christian Lindner congratulated Pistorius on his new post. In a tweet, the FDP leader spoke of his “new cabinet colleague Boris Pistorius”. “A major task lies ahead of us, especially with the implementation of the special fund,” he wrote. He is looking forward to good cooperation between the finance and defense ministries.

Criticism of the decision comes from the Union. “The Chancellor is showing that he doesn’t take his own turning point seriously,” said the deputy chairman of the Union faction, Johann Wadephul. “Again, expertise and experience with the Bundeswehr play no role,” he criticized. The personnel is a “cast from the B team”. With that, Chancellor Scholz “had a real surprise. Unfortunately, not a good one.”

According to the CDU politician, moving the Bundeswehr forward requires not only money, but also expertise. “Given the situation, Boris Pistorius will not be able to have 100 days of training,” emphasized Wadephul. Wadephul announced that the CDU/CSU parliamentary group was offering to work with the new minister, but would follow his work critically.

Thursday first meeting with US colleague

Pistorius is now facing a cold start in the ministry, and he has to welcome US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Berlin on Thursday.

With a man succeeding Lambrecht, the parity in the federal cabinet that Scholz was actually aiming for is thrown off balance. So far, eight men and eight women have held ministerial posts; now, without further changes, the ratio would shift to nine men and seven women.