Despite the appointment of Nicole Schilling as Deputy General Inspector of the German Armed Forces, Agnieszka Brugger, Deputy Chair of the Green Party parliamentary group, has voiced concerns regarding the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership roles within the military.
Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Brugger acknowledged the positive aspect of a service member holding such a high position but emphasized that it does not negate the broader issue of female representation in leadership. She stated that while Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has spoken of equality, “it is actions that count.
Brugger’s comments appeared to target Jens Plötner, the new State Secretary for Armaments, suggesting that political affiliation may be prioritized over experience, expertise and representation in key appointments.
However, Brugger did offer praise for the appointment of Christian Freuding as Inspector of the Army, describing him as an “impressive individual” and expressing confidence in his leadership.
It is worth noting that a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence previously admitted in May of last year that the percentage of women in military leadership positions within the ministry stood at approximately 2 percent, with 16 percent across the entire armed forces.