New defence minister unglamorous but earnest

Germany's Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, who stepped down recently over a plagiarism affair, will be replaced by Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière. With this appointment Chancellor Angela Merkel is opting for seriousness rather than glamour, writes the left-liberal daily Der Standard: "The replacement was not an easy task, because heavyweights capable of leading the Defence Ministry at this tricky stage are few and far between. ... Considering the options, the chancellor has not come up with a bad solution. The former Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière is on close terms with the chancellor and is now considered a very competent 'jack of all trades'. ... De Maizière will run the defence portfolio with the same seriousness he brought to the Interior Ministry, a quality that is badly needed. The largest reform in the history of the German army the Bundeswehr must be pushed through, and the minister must be able to summon all his resources for the job. For its part the CSU can be happy with the Interior Ministry, as domestic security has always been a topic with which it could score points. Above all both appointments are characterised by the motto 'Enough of the glamour, let's get down to business'."

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