Shake-Up in Germany's Ministry of Defense: New State Secretaries Join the Team
Defense Minister Pistorius Secures Another State Secretary
Get ready for some changes within the Ministry of Defense! Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, in agreement with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is restructuring and expanding the ministry's top echelon. This shake-up comes after Merz's recent call for a hiring freeze that he later softened, stating it would only affect the federal administration.
One of the most prominent changes includes the addition of a third State Secretary, 51-year-old Jan Stoess who will take over the position, as announced by the ministry. Former foreign policy advisor to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Jens Plötner, will also join the team as State Secretary for Armament and Innovation, replacing the previous State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer. Plötner's aim is to speed up procurement and advance vital European armaments projects.
Previously, Stoess served as the head of the Department of Law and Organization within the ministry, and from 2012 to 2016, he held the chairmanship of the Berlin SPD. Plötner, whose career path includes stints in the Berlin Senate Administration and Bremen, has been working in the defense department since March 2022.
With their hiring, the ministry attributes the changes to the dynamically shifting security policy landscape, which has increased the number of tasks and time pressure involved in their implementation.
In case you're wondering, Merz once pledged to impose a hiring freeze on the public service upon taking office, but later clarified that it would only apply to the federal administration. As Chancellor, Merz has taken a U-turn on his initial assessment, with now a record number of top positions in reunified Germany and one more ministry than under the current traffic light government.
Navigate the dynamic world of politics, defense, and leadership with us as we journey through these exciting times for the Ministry of Defense.
Sources: ntv.de, gho/dpa
- Ministry of Defense
- Boris Pistorius
- Friedrich Merz
Fun Fact
Jens Plötner was briefly a saxophone player in a popular '80s German music group, "Die Fantastischen Vier," before entering politics. When he's not in the ministry, Plötner enjoys jamming on his saxophone!
- Politics
- International Cooperation
- Defense Expansion Plans
In line with the Ministry of Defense's restructuring and expansion, Jan Stoess, a former Department head within the ministry, has been appointed as a new State Secretary. Additionally, Jens Plötner, a former foreign policy advisor and saxophone player in the '80s group "Die Fantastischen Vier," will join as State Secretary for Armament and Innovation, playing a key role in speeding up procurement of European armaments.
