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German chancellor pledges to expedite search for new defense minister

The media have named Eva Hoegl, Bundestag’s parliamentary commissioner for the Armed Forces and Lars Klingbeil, head of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, as possible successors

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Michael Kappeler/DPA via AP

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

© Michael Kappeler/DPA via AP

BERLIN, January 16. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz thanked outgoing Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht for her work and pledged that he would not drag out the search for a successor.

"I already have a clear idea of what will happen next [in the context of the search for a new minister], we will announce this in due time," the chancellor said in the city of Ulm on Monday, quoted by the NTV TV channel. According to Scholz, this will happen "very quickly."

The media have named Eva Hoegl, Bundestag’s parliamentary commissioner for the Armed Forces and Lars Klingbeil, head of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, as possible successors. Lambrecht has been criticized in recent months for insufficient logistical support for the German Armed Forces. She was rated 20th in popularity among German politicians. Most recently, she was criticized for her New Year's address circulated on social media. It was recorded on the sidewalk against the background of exploding firecrackers, and the words of the minister were hushed by the wind and noise of fireworks. The media also found some of Lambrecht's wording inappropriate.

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