Christine Lambrecht, speaking about the Ukrainian war, with New Year’s celebrations behind her, was criticized for being inappropriate and toneless.
German opposition politicians are calling for the resignation of Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht. It’s a series of missteps, the latest of which is a New Year’s Eve speech that they say is embarrassing.
Lambrecht drew heavy criticism for a video address published on social media and filmed on the streets of Berlin during the chaotic New Year’s celebrations. Her critics accused her of sending a toneless message.
In a speech posted on his private Instagram account, Lambrecht said 2022 presented Germany with an incredible challenge.
“War is raging in the middle of Europe,” she said, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“In connection with that, I was able to get so many special impressions.I met a lot of interesting and wonderful people,” she said. “For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
I’ve translated the relevant parts (I tried to get as close to the original as possible, so there are some awkward phrasing).
I’m sorry, this is tragic. pic.twitter.com/JMaJlh08cu— Ulrike Franke (@RikeFranke) January 1, 2023
The Ukrainian war was juxtaposed against the backdrop of the festivities, and remarks about “great people” angered opposition politicians and some media outlets.
The opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lawmaker Serapp Güller indirectly called on Prime Minister Olaf Scholz to sack Lambrecht.
“A speech about war with firecrackers on New Year’s Eve in the background only crowns her string of embarrassments,” Guler wrote on Twitter on Sunday. He could be held accountable for every minute that he further tarnishes our nation’s reputation.”
This isn’t the first time Lambrecht has come under attack.
CDU partner Markus Soder, leader of the Christian Social Union, had already asked to resign in December.
“As for Ms. Lambrecht, it would be better if she quit voluntarily,” he told Bild. People just aren’t cut out for the office.”
Lambrecht, a member of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, has faced criticism in the media for her response to the Russian aggression and sluggish German support for Ukraine.
The minister was ridiculed last year for announcing that the German government would send 5,000 helmets to Ukraine, which was seeking heavy weapons to ward off Russia.
German media called her New Year’s speech inappropriate.
Tagesspiegel, in a scathing commentary headlined “Lambrecht no longer bears as minister”, wrote that her New Year’s speech made the war sound like an “exciting professional experience”.
According to the Bild daily, the one-minute message captured on a mobile phone “humiliated” Germany.
Spiegel magazine wrote that the video was “inappropriate and embarrassing” in the context of the war in Ukraine.
German media also questioned Lambrecht’s ability to lead efforts by Europe’s largest economy to revive its long-neglected army as a result of the war in Ukraine.
“For this decades-long task, we need a leader who will infuse joy and energy into our defense policy, spur our government and armed forces, and attract public attention for the benefit of our armed forces,” said Süddeutsche Zeitung. says. I have written.
