The German defense minister is preparing to resign, the media reports

Germany defense minister Kristine Lambrecht is going to resign, and it could happen as early as next week, German media reports.

The newspaper “Bild” was the first to report on the possible resignation of the minister on Friday, but a little later “Süddeutsche Zeitung” also reported on it. Both newspapers cited unnamed sources.

Meanwhile, a government spokesman on Friday evening called the news “rumors” that are not being commented on.

Lambrecht, who represents the Social Democrats (SPD), has drawn sharp criticism for her New Year’s address, during which she spoke about the war in Ukraine against the backdrop of fireworks.

The opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) stated that the minister’s speech lacked empathy for the victims of Russian aggression, and demanded her resignation.

However, the chancellor Olaf Scholzwho also represents the SPD, has announced after Lambrecht’s much-criticized speech that he still trusts her.

The minister was also criticized in May of last year, when news appeared that she had allowed her 21-year-old son to use a Bundeswehr helicopter for a flight to Zilte Island, a popular vacation spot for Germans.

As a minister, she has also received a lot of criticism in connection with the discussions on the supply of military equipment to Ukraine, as well as the unsatisfactory situation in the Bundeswehr.

Polls also reportedly show that most Germans want Lambrecht to resign.

According to the current “Politbarometer” poll, conducted by the “Forschungsgruppe Wahlen” institute on behalf of the TV channel ZDF, 60% of the respondents admitted that they would like Lambrecht to resign, and only 25% of the respondents support her remaining in office.

Even half of the surveyed social democrats agreed that Lambrecht should resign.

Bundeswehr Parliamentary Commissioner Eva Hegl and State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Zimtje Meller are mentioned as her possible successors.

They both represent the SPD, as Lambrecht’s successor must also be a social democrat in order not to upset the balance of power in the ruling coalition, which includes the Greens and the liberal Liberal Free Democrats (FDP) together with the SPD.