"Unprepared before Moscow": Strack-Zimmermann upsets following Plötner's appointment, who was earlier an adviser to Scholz.
FDP Politician Blasts Federal Government over Security Appointment
The veteran FDP politician, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has taken a swipe at the personnel policies of the federal government in the security sector. This, as a result of the appointment of Jens Plötner, a former advisor to ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense.
Strack-Zimmermann didn't mince words, labeling the decision as disastrous for the country's security architecture. She voiced her concern that CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter is being pushed out of the Parliamentary Control Committee as part of this move. In her opinion, this move would be a "catastrophe" for the security setup of the country.
She argued that Plötner, with his policy of appeasement towards Moscow, lacks the necessary judgment required to safeguard Germany's interests. The appointment of such an individual, according to her, raises doubts about the sincerity of the federal government's security strategy.
In her scathing remarks on Wednesday, she further stated that such a move implies that there are forces working behind the scenes, willing to cling onto old Moscow ties rather than prioritizing Germany's security needs. She sarcastically described this as a "security policy roller coaster" that the country cannot afford in the current situation.
The New Address of Concern: Bundestag
Strack-Zimmermann also pilloried the dismissal of Kiesewetter, calling him one of the "most prominent and independent minds" in German security policy. With his strong stance against hybrid threats and Russian influence, Kiesewetter was a crucial counterweight, according to Strack-Zimmermann.
The move, she argued, sends a worrying signal of loyalty towards authoritarian regimes. This, she emphasized, is simply unacceptable to those standing up against autocratic rule.
Plötner, who has spent years within the Foreign Office, had served in various roles, including ambassadorial posts in Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Greece. From 2019 to 2021, he served as Political Director in the Foreign Office before transitioning to become Scholz's foreign and security policy advisor until May of this year.
As of June 4, 2025, it was announced that Plötner will assume responsibility for modernizing the Bundeswehr in the Ministry of Defense as State Secretary for Armaments and Innovation. Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) made the appointment, and the position will be further strengthened with the addition of a third State Secretary position, which Jan Stöß will take on as head of the legal department.
Plötner's tasks will include pushing for faster procurement, driving important European armaments projects, and incorporating new innovation technologies, according to the Federal Ministry of Defense. His vast experience and international network in politics and industry are expected to benefit these efforts.
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The search results do not provide information about the reasons for Kiesewetter's dismissal or the specific criticism of Plötner's appointment from Strack-Zimmermann. However, contextually, her concerns might be rooted in a broader distrust of Russia and a desire for a robust defense policy, particularly in light of the international political climate.
Furthermore, the appointment of an experienced diplomat like Plötner with a diverse background suggests a strategic move by the government to improve defense capabilities and focus on innovation in the military sector. However, Strack-Zimmermann's apparent reservations about Plötner could indicate dissatisfaction with his previous policy positions or concerns about his suitability for the role in the context of the country's defense strategy. More information would be needed to fully understand the political dynamics behind these appointments and Strack-Zimmermann's criticisms.
- The criticisms leveled by FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann against the federal government's security policy and legislative decisions have intensified, as she perceives the appointment of Jens Plötner as State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense as a step towards appeasement of Moscow and a potential threat to Germany's security interests.
- Strack-Zimmermann has expressed her dissatisfaction with the policy-and-legislation landscape of politics, asserting that the removal of CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter from the Parliamentary Control Committee as part of Plötner's appointment could be detrimental to the general-news landscape of the country's security setup, given Kiesewetter's prominent and independent stance against hybrid threats and Russian influence.
