A Shake-up at the Ministry of Defense: New State Secretary for Pistorius and His Team
Defense Minister Pistorius Secures a New State Secretary
Hold on to your seats, folks! The Ministry of Defense is going through a serious transformation under the leadership of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. And it's all happening in harmony with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who recently endorsed a hiring freeze. Brace yourself for some fresh faces!
The Ministry of Defense is getting a third State Secretary, according to official announcements. The said position will be filled by 51-year-old Jan Stoess, a full-fledged lawyer who has been heading the Department of Law and Organization within the ministry. Intriguingly, Stoess used to chair the Berlin SPD from 2012 to 2016, making way for the later governing mayor, Michael Mueller, to take over. Stoess joined the defense department back in March 2022 after roles in the Berlin Senate Administration and Bremen. The ministry points to the changing security policy situation as the reason behind Stoess' appointment. With a surge in tasks and increased pressure to deliver, it seems they've got their hands full.
Speaking of busy schedules, Jens Ploetner, previously Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz's foreign policy advisor from the SPD, is hopping on board too. He's set to become State Secretary for Armament and Innovation in the Ministry of Defense, effectively replacing the previous State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer. Ploetner's main objective? To expedite procurement and advance key European armament projects.
Now, let's talk politics. Merz had vowed to impose a hiring freeze on the public service, particularly federal ministries, last fall. However, he later clarified that the freeze only applies to the federal administration. Key positions that are essential still need to be filled, he asserted. But as Chancellor, it seems Merz has had a change of heart. In fact, there are now more top positions in reunified Germany than during the traffic light government, and one extra ministry to boot.
Source: ntv.de via gho/dpa
- Ministry of Defense
- Boris Pistorius
- Friedrich Merz
- The Ministry of Defense, under the guidance of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, is undergoing a significant shift, with three new State Secretaries joining the team, including Jan Stoess, a lawyer who was formerly the head of the Department of Law and Organization within the ministry.
- Jens Ploetner, previously an advisor to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the SPD, will be stepping into the role of State Secretary for Armament and Innovation in the Ministry of Defense, replacing Benedikt Zimmer, as part of the ministry's efforts to streamline procurement and drive key European armament projects.
