"In a Key Position" – Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is the new Minister of Defence
Berlin, 28.10.2009.
On 28 October, Dr. Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg received his letter of appointment as Federal Minister of Defence at the Office of the Federal President. After being appointed by Federal President Horst Köhler, he and his fellow cabinet members took their oath of office in the German Bundestag.
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is the 15th Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Since February 2009 he had served as Federal Minister of Economics and Technology in the cabinet of Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel. During the last legislative period, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag in the Foreign Affairs Committee and spokesman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag on disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control before being appointed Minister of Economics and Technology.
At 37, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is the youngest minister in the history of the Federal Ministry of Defence. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said about his new task: "Minister of Defence is certainly a key position".
In the evening of 28 October, the previous incumbent Dr. Franz Josef Jung handed over office to his successor during a military parade watched by Ministry of Defence employees at the Bendler Block in Berlin.
Jung himself was bid farewell during the Grand Tattoo that followed.
