STORY: Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht is probably about to resign. Several media reported on Friday about the corresponding plans of the SPD politician. A senior government source told Reuters that Lambrecht intends to announce her resignation as minister next week and has already discussed it with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. A spokesman for the Department of Defense described the information as rumors that are not being commented on. Lambrecht was overwhelmed with her task from the start, said CDU leader Friedrich Merz after a closed meeting of the federal executive board in Weimar on Saturday. “It would be good if what has been rumored through the media for several hours now finally ends with a decision by the Federal Chancellor. This wafting and this waiting and this hesitation also harms the Bundeswehr. It would be good if the Bundeswehr would once again get a minister who is up to the task or a minister who is up to the task and who also meets the challenges that the Bundeswehr has to face.” Lambrecht had been criticized several times for her leadership. Most recently, a message published on the Internet for New Year’s Eve, in which the minister spoke about the war in Ukraine against the background noise of firecrackers and rockets, caused displeasure. The “Bild” newspaper reported that the reason for the planned resignation was Lambrecht’s realization that a fresh start was needed in the Defense Ministry. The successor is being discussed in government and SPD circles. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Högl (SPD), would be given a good chance. According to the “mirror”, a cabinet move is also considered conceivable. Accordingly, SPD Labor Minister Hubertus Heil could switch to the Ministry of Defense.