Member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) - Faber designated as Defense Committee Chairperson
Marcus Faber, a 40-year-old politician from the Free Democratic Party (FDP), will become the new head of the Defense Committee, replacing the outspoken Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann. Faber emerged victorious in a fierce internal battle against Alexander Müller during a gathering, according to the German Press Agency.
The members of the Defense Committee play a crucial role in overseeing the Defense Ministry and the Bundeswehr. They also help shape the defense budget and acquire weapons and supplies. The FDP faction has the authority to put forth a candidate for the chairman position, followed by a formal vote among the committee members.
Faber, from Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, was previously the FDP's defense policy spokesperson but had to step down in 2022 following contentious remarks about Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) addressing the Defense Committee. Initially, it was anticipated that Müller (Landesverband Hessen) would replace Faber as the FDP's defense policy spokesperson and lead the party in the committee.
Strack-Zimmermann relinquished her role as chairman to focus on European politics. She serves as the FDP's leading candidate for the European election and as part of the liberal party family ALDE. In Germany's parliament, she passionately advocated for increased military support to Ukraine, often engaging in confrontation.
"Either people like me or they find me quite intimidating. I accept that. I didn't get into politics to go unnoticed. So you work and, of course, want to be recognized," Strack-Zimmermann remarked to the German Press Agency in Berlin.
"I can't deny that if you look at the history of people who have held this position, I'm one of the louder ones. Apart from Franz Josef Strauß. But in the larger context, it's also that 70 days after I assumed this office, Vladimir Putin launched an attack on Ukraine. Therefore, the spotlight on the Defense Committee was intensified a bit more."
