Shaking Up the Ministry of Defense: Pistorius Welcomes New State Secretary and Reorganization
Defense Minister Pistorius is granted a new State Secretary
Get ready for some major changes within the Ministry of Defense! Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is shaking things up and introducing a series of restructuring moves, all in agreement with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The Ministry of Defense will witness a shake-up with the addition of a third State Secretary. The newcomer? none other than Jan Stoess, a seasoned lawyer with a wealth of experience within the ministry.
Stoess, age 51, has been the head of the department of law and organization in the ministry. Prior to his tenure with the ministry, Stoess served as chairman of the Berlin SPD, a role he held from 2012 to 2016. After passing the baton to future Governing Mayor Michael Müller, Stoess ventured into the Berlin Senate Administration and then made his way to the defense department in March 2022. The ministry justifies Stoess's appointment due to the altered security policy environment, which has significantly increased the pressure of tasks that need to be swiftly executed.
Speaking of appointments, another significant change is happening in the Ministry of Defense. The State Secretary for Armament and Innovation is becoming Jens Plötner, who was previously the foreign policy advisor to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Plötner is succeeding Benedikt Zimmer as State Secretary, and his main focus will be to accelerate procurement and drive forward important European armament projects.
With all these changes happening in the Ministry of Defense, one might wonder about Chancellor Merz's stance on public sector hiring during his tenure. While he initially promised a hiring freeze for the public service and federal ministries, he later clarified that this only applied to the federal administration. As Chancellor, however, Merz appears to have reversed his stance on the growth of the public sector, given the record number of top positions in reunified Germany and the addition of yet another ministry under the current government.
Sources: ntv.de, gho/dpa
- Ministry of Defense
- Boris Pistorius
- Friedrich Merz
In essence, chaos is brewing within the Ministry of Defense as Pistorius reorganizes the top positions and enlists new State Secretaries, such as Stoess and Plötner, to support the ongoing restructuring efforts. These changes are occurring amidst a broader push within Germany to augment its defense capabilities and assume a leadership role in Europe. However, it remains to be seen how these personnel shifts and organizational changes will impact the overall effectiveness of the restructuring. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development!
In the midst of the restructuring within the Ministry of Defense, Jan Stoess, aged 51, a seasoned lawyer with past roles in the ministry, Berlin SPD, and Berlin Senate Administration, has been appointed as the third State Secretary. Meanwhile, Jens Plötner, previously the foreign policy advisor to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, will take over the State Secretary for Armament and Innovation position. These positions are part of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius' efforts to shake up the ministry in agreement with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The changes come amidst Germany's push to strengthen its defense capabilities and lead in Europe.
