World : Kohl Fires Defense Minister and Replaces 7 Other Cabinet Members

BONN — Chancellor Helmut Kohl today fired his defense minister and replaced seven other Cabinet members in an apparent bid to stop his party’s declining popularity.

In addition to the defense post, Kohl announced a new chief of staff and new ministers for finance, interior, transport, economic cooperation, construction and information.

Defense Minister Rupert Scholz was the only Cabinet member left jobless under the changes. He was replaced by Finance Minister Gerhard Stoltenberg.

Kohl said at a news conference that the changes were not a direct consequence of his Christian Democratic Union’s recent election setbacks, but he conceded that his party and coalition government face “a totally new situation.”