Defense Minister Boris Pistorius Fails to Advance Women in Leadership Positions
According to a confidential document from the Ministry of Defense, the increase in the number of women in leadership positions has been marginal, falling short of meeting the legal requirements for equal participation in the ministry’s business.
The Ministry of Defense is expected to achieve parity in the leadership of all federal authorities by the end of 2025, as per the Equality Act. However, the ministry’s own data reveals a stark reality: the proportion of women in the civilian leadership is around 35%, while among soldiers, it is a mere 4.3%.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius noted on the document that, in light of the high underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, the swift implementation of measures for “Female Empowerment” is necessary. Notably, during the beginning of his second term, Pistorius filled all top positions with men and even created an additional state secretary position, which he allocated to a male candidate. Moreover, his inner circle of leadership does not feature a single female representative.