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Boris Pistorius

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Boris Pistorius
Pistorius in 2019
Minister of Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 January 2023
ChancellorOlaf Scholz
Preceded byChristine Lambrecht
Minister for Interior and Sports
of Lower Saxony
In office
19 February 2013 – 18 January 2023
Minister-President
Preceded byUwe Schünemann
Succeeded byDaniela Behrens
Lord Mayor of Osnabrück
In office
7 November 2006 – 19 February 2013
Deputy
  • Burkhard Jasper
  • Karin Jabs-Kiesler
  • Michael Hagedorn
  • Birgit Strangmann
Preceded byHans-Jürgen Fip
Succeeded byWolfgang Griesert
Parliamentary constituencies
Member of the
Landtag of Lower Saxony
for Osnabrück-West
In office
14 November 2017 – 19 January 2023
Preceded byBurkhard Jasper
Succeeded byDaniela Behrens
Personal details
Born
Boris Ludwig Pistorius

(1960-03-14) 14 March 1960 (age 64)
Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, West Germany
Political partySocial Democratic Party (1976–present)
Spouse
Sabine Pistorius
​
(died 2015)​
Domestic partners
Children2
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Civil Servant
  • Lawyer
  • Foreign Trade Clerk
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
Allegiance Germany
Branch/service Bundeswehr
Years of service1980–1981
Unit German Army (Heer) /
Flugabwehrregiment 11

Boris Ludwig Pistorius (German pronunciation: [ˈbɔʁɪs pɪsˈtoːʁiʊs];[2] born 14 March 1960) is a German lawyer and politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), he has served as Federal Minister of Defence in the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz since 19 January 2023.

Earlier in his career, Pistorius was a member of the State Parliament of Lower Saxony, and served as State Minister for Interior and Sports in the state government of Lower Saxony (Cabinet Weil II) from 2013 to 2017.[3] From 2006 to 2013, Pistorius was Lord Mayor of Osnabrück.[4]

Early life and education

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Pistorius was born in Osnabrück, the second son of Ursula Pistorius (née Raabe; 1933–2015) and Ludwig Pistorius (1923–2009).[5] His mother was a member of the Osnabrück city council from 1972 to 1996 and also served as a member of the Landtag of Lower Saxony from 1978 to 1990.[6]

After taking his abitur at the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Gymnasium[7] in Osnabrück, he was conscripted to military service in the Bundeswehr in 1980[8] before taking up law studies at the University of Münster and Osnabrück University, and also, for a brief period, at the Catholic University of the West.[9]

Early career

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Pistorius worked as the personal advisor to State Minister for Interior of Lower Saxony Gerhard Glogowski in government led by Minister-President Gerhard Schröder from 1991 to 1995, and was the deputy head of his office from 1995 to 1996.[9]

Political career

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Career in local politics

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Pistorius joined the SPD in 1976.[10]

Pistorius was part of the city council from 1996 until 2013 and from 1999 to 2002 he served as second mayor of Osnabrück.[11]

Pistorius served as Mayor of Osnabrück,[4] starting his mayoral term on 7 November 2006 winning with 55.5% against Wolfgang Griesert[12] who would later go on to become the Mayor after Pistorius's resignation due to his position at the Lower Saxony government in 2013.[13]

State Minister of the Interior and Sports, 2013–2022

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After the Lower Saxony state elections in 2013, Pistorius was sworn in as State Minister of the Interior and Sports at the constituent session of the 17th State Parliament of Lower Saxony on 19 February 2013.

From 2013 to 2017, Pistorius was one of the state's representatives on the German Bundesrat; from 2017, he was an alternate member.[14] In this capacity, he was a member of the German-Russian Friendship Group set up in cooperation with the Russian Federation Council. He was also an alternate member of the German delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, where he was part of the Political Committee, its Sub-Committee on NATO Partnerships and its Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Relations.[15]

During his time in office in state government, Pistorius was widely seen as standing out in his state for his tough stance[16] on Islamist radicalism, terror threats, organized crime and far-right extremism.[17]

Role in national politics

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Main article: 2019 Social Democratic Party of Germany leadership election

In the negotiations to form a fourth coalition government under Chancellor Angela Merkel's leadership following the 2017 federal elections, Pistorius was part of the working group on internal and legal affairs, led by Thomas de Maizière, Stephan Mayer and Heiko Maas.

In the 2019 SPD leadership election, Pistorius was a candidate for the position as the party's co-chair, together with Saxony State Minister Petra Köpping.[18][19] Köpping and Pistorius came in fifth place, receiving only 14.41% of the vote.

In the negotiations to form a so-called traffic light coalition of the SPD, the Green Party and the Free Democrats (FDP) following the 2021 German elections, Pistorius led his party's delegation in the working group on migration and integration; the co-chairs from the other parties were Luise Amtsberg and Joachim Stamp.[20]

Federal Minister of Defence, 2023–present

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Pistorius with US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann in 2023
Pistorius and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Berlin, Germany, 19 January 2023

On 17 January 2023, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Pistorius would succeed Christine Lambrecht, who resigned on 16 January after numerous political blunders, as Minister of Defence in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet.[21] This came as a surprise to many political observers, with SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil and Bundestag Armed Forces Commissioner Eva Högl being floated most often as replacements.[22][23] The appointment was criticized,[24] as it would mean breaking the gender parity Scholz had promised upon the cabinet's formation.[25] A plausible explanation is that, in the acute European military crisis – many people, including people in the Bundeswehr – thought it irresponsible to again appoint somebody without any military experience,[26] and to instead appoint based on competency rather than gender.

Pistorius was formally appointed by German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and eventually took the oath of office at the Bundestag on 19 January 2023.

During his first year in office, Pistorius announced military aid worth 2.7 billion euro ($3.0 billion) to Ukraine both in May 2023[27] and 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in October 2023.[28]

In March 2023, Pistorius participated in the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and Japan in Tokyo, chaired by Chancellor Scholz and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.[29] In October 2023, he joined the first joint cabinet retreat of the German and French governments in Hamburg, chaired by Scholz and President Emmanuel Macron.[30][31]

In July 2024, Christian Lindner warned Boris Pistorius that no additional funds would be provided for military modernization beyond what the coalition government had already agreed upon. This followed a budget decision that left Pistorius, responsible for revitalizing Germany's defenses amid increased security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, feeling disappointed. Lindner defended the funding arrangement, highlighting a special 100-billion-euro fund that had been made available to Pistorius for military upgrades, a resource unprecedented for previous defense ministers, and urged efficient use of these resources. This budgetary restraint came as the IMF noted that Germany's low public infrastructure investment was affecting its economic growth, despite having the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7.[32]

Under Pistorius' leadership, Germany joined the US-led United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea in August 2024, becoming the 18th nation to do so.[33] Also in August 2024, Pistorius and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro committed to establishing long-term relations between their armed forces to expand training and bilateral exchanges, explore opportunities to expand bilateral armaments cooperation and engage in joint projects.[34]

In July 2024, the United States announced its intention to deploy long-range missiles in Germany beginning in 2026.[35] US weapons in Germany would include SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons.[36] The United States' decision to deploy missiles in Germany has been compared to the deployment of Pershing II launchers in Western Europe in the 1980s.[37][36] The decision was supported by Boris Pistorius and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Critics say the move would trigger a new arms race.[38] According to Russian military analysts, it would be extremely difficult to distinguish between a conventionally armed missile and a missile carrying a nuclear warhead, and Russia could respond by deploying longer-range nuclear systems targeting Germany.[39]

Polling conducted in 2024 found Pistorius to be the most popular politician in Germany. He declined to be the SDP's Chancellor-candidate in the 2025 election.[40]

Other activities

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Corporate boards

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Non-profit organizations

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  • Munich Security Conference, Member of the Advisory Council (since 2023)[43]
  • Business Forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Member of the Political Advisory Board (since 2020)[44]
  • Robert Enke Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2017)[45]
  • Aloys & Brigitte Coppenrath Foundation, Member of the Board[46]

Political positions

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In 2018, Pistorius suggested that sanctions against Russia should be reviewed.[47]

In 2021, he demanded that Germany order the messaging program Telegram removed from Apple Inc.'s and Google's app stores if it continues to ignore requests to help track down extremist content.[48]

Amid the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pistorius condemned what he has called Russia's "brutal attacks" on Ukraine.[49] In May 2022, he said that Russian sympathizers must not glorify Russia's war against Ukraine on German streets.[49]

In October 2023, following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war, Pistorius expressed full support for Israel. He told Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant that "whatever we can do to support you, with material support, we will do this."[50]

In January 2024, he warned that Russia could attack NATO in 5 to 8 years.[51] In April 2024, Pistorius compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Nazi Germany's leader Adolf Hitler and urged Europe to prepare for a full-scale war with Russia, saying that "Putin will not stop once the war against Ukraine is over."[52]

Personal life

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Pistorius has two daughters with his wife Sabine, who died in 2015 due to cancer.[53] He was in a relationship with Doris Schröder-Köpf from 2016 until spring 2022.[54] He has been in a relationship with Julia Schwanholz, a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen, since 2022.[55]

Awards and honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Schröder-Köpf und Minister Pistorius sind ein Paar" (in German). Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Petra Köpping & Boris Pistorius". YouTube. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Innenminister Boris Pistorius". Niedersachsen (in German). Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Die ehemaligen Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Osnabrück". Osnabrück (in German). Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Traueranzeigen von Ludwig Pistorius". Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  6. ^ Schmidt, Ulrike. "Zum Tod der Osnabrücker Politikerin Ursula Pistorius" (in German). Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Minister Pistorius diskutiert mit Osnabrücker Schülern" (in German). Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  8. ^ Holger Hansen (17 January 2023), Germany names new defence minister, faces pressure to send tanks to Ukraine Reuters.
  9. ^ a b "Lebenslauf". Boris Pistorius (in German). Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Boris Pistorius". SPD-Landtagsfraktion Niedersachsen (in German). Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Innenminister Boris Pistorius Lebenslauf". Niedersachsen (in German). Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Vorläufiges Ergebnis der Stichwahl zur Direktwahl der Oberbürgermeisterin / des Oberbürgermeisters in der Stadt Osnabrück". Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Statistik (in German). Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. ^ Remmers, Bernhard. "Osnabrück sucht den OB-Kandidaten" (in German). Hannoversche Allgemeine. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Boris Pistorius". Bundesrat (in German). Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  15. ^ Boris Pistorius NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
  16. ^ Holger Hansen (17 January 2023), Germany names new defence minister, faces pressure to send tanks to Ukraine Reuters.
  17. ^ Bojan Pancevski (17 January 2023), Little-Known Politician to Become German Defense Minister Amid Mounting Challenges Wall Street Journal.
  18. ^ Christoph Hickmann, Veit Medick and Christian Teevs (29 August 2019), SPD-Kandidatenduo: Köpping und Pistorius bringen Steuersenkungen ins Spiel Der Spiegel.
  19. ^ Madeline Chambers (23 October 2019), Aspiring leaders of Germany's Social Democrats Reuters.
  20. ^ Lakämper, Britt-Marie. "SPD, Grüne, FDP: Diese Politiker verhandeln die Ampel" (in German). Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  21. ^ Connolly, Kate (17 January 2023). "Germany's no-nonsense new defence minister faces early test over Ukraine". Guardian News & Media Limited.
  22. ^ "Wer folgt auf Lambrecht? Vier Niedersachsen hoch gehandelt".
  23. ^ "Lambrecht tritt zurück: Kandidaten für die Nachfolge – Übersicht". 16 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Keine Parität im Kabinett: SPD-Frauen sprachlos". 17 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Scholz' Kabinett - "Diese Parität sollte Normalität sein"". 7 December 2021.
  26. ^ Weimer, Wolfram (1 February 2022). "Person der Woche Lambrecht: Ministerin der 5000 Helme" [Person of the week Lambrecht: Minister of the 5,000 helmets]. NTV.
  27. ^ Victoria Waldersee and Sabine Siebold (13 May 2023), Germany unveils 2.7 bln euro military package to Ukraine, biggest yet Reuters.
  28. ^ Christoph Steitz (10 October 2023), Germany announces new defense aid for Ukraine worth $1.1 bln Reuters.
  29. ^ Regierungskonsultationen: Scholz und Minister in Japan Tagesschau, 18 March 2023.
  30. ^ Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke (9 October 2023), Germany, France hold unprecedented cabinet retreat to oil creaky EU motor Reuters.
  31. ^ Erste deutsch-französische Kabinettsklausur: Zukunftsfragen und Weltpolitik diskutiert Cabinet of Germany, press release of 10 October 2023.
  32. ^ "German defence minister told not to expect additional budget boost". Reuters. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  33. ^ Josh Smith (2 August 2024), Germany joins US-led UN Command in South Korea policing armistice border Reuters.
  34. ^ Karen Lema (4 August 2024), Philippines, Germany commit to reaching defence pact this year Reuters.
  35. ^ "A new arms race in Europe? US long-range weapons in Germany". Deutsche Welle. 13 July 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Putin warns US against deploying long-range missiles in Germany". The Guardian. 28 July 2024.
  37. ^ "Russia says US missiles in Germany signal return of Cold War". Al Jazeera. 11 July 2024.
  38. ^ "Germany split on US stationing long-range cruise missiles". Deutsche Welle. 11 July 2024.
  39. ^ "Thanks to Putin, the U.S. will again place long-range missiles in Germany". The Hill. 12 July 2024.
  40. ^ Busvine, Douglas (21 November 2024). "Popular Pistorius makes way for struggling Scholz to launch German reelection bid". POLITICO. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  41. ^ Oberbürgermeister bilden Führungsspitze: Osnabrücker Oberbürgermeister Boris Pistorius zum stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden des Aufsichtsrates gewählt Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, 24 March 2011.
  42. ^ Board Niedersächsische Sparkassenstiftung.
  43. ^ Advisory Council Munich Security Conference.
  44. ^ Bernd Westphal und Anke Rehlinger koordinieren neu konstituierten Politischen Beirat des SPD-Wirtschaftsforums Archived 20 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine Business Forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, press release of 1 July 2020.
  45. ^ Board of Trustees Archived 2 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine Robert Enke Foundation.
  46. ^ Board Aloys & Brigitte Coppenrath Foundation.
  47. ^ "Boris Pistorius wants to review sanctions against Russia (Boris Pistorius will Sanktionen gegen Russland prüfen)". Die Zeit (in German). Hamburg. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  48. ^ Thomas Escritt (14 December 2021), Politician says Germany should ban Telegram unless it tackles extremist content Reuters, 15 December 2021.
  49. ^ a b Holger Hansen (17 January 2023), Germany names new defence minister, faces pressure to send tanks to Ukraine Reuters.
  50. ^ "Defence minister pledges Germany's full support to Israel". Reuters. 19 October 2023.
  51. ^ "Putin could attack NATO in '5 to 8 years,' German defense minister warns". Politico. 19 January 2024.
  52. ^ "German Defense Chief Compares Putin to Hitler at Churchill Event". BNN Bloomberg. 11 April 2024.
  53. ^ "Innenminister Pistorius trauert um seine Frau" (in German). Bild. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  54. ^ "Trennung von Boris Pistorius: Doris Schröder-Köpf ist wieder Single". n-tv.de (in German). 9 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  55. ^ "Sie ist die Neue an Boris Pistorius' Seite" (in German). 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  56. ^ "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas" [Interior Minister Pistorius mourns the loss of his wife]. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  57. ^ "Innenminister Pistorius mit Schlesierschild beim Deutschlandtreffen der Schlesier 2019 in Hannover ausgezeichnet". Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Inneres und Sport. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
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