Concerns are mounting regarding a rise in attacks targeting cultural institutions and practices within Germany, according to Culture State Minister Wolfram Weimer. In an interview with the “Rheinische Post” Weimer expressed alarm about pressure emanating from both right-wing and left-wing ideological positions, attributing the trend to a broader global shift impacting freedom of expression.
He identified authoritarian tendencies emerging from diverse sources, including right-wing factions, leftist groups, Islamist extremism and the governmental practices of nations like China and Russia, all of which are influencing public discourse. Weimer emphasized the necessity of maintaining “the space of the center” within German society, a task he believes requires deliberate and active cultural policy.
The Minister also voiced strong condemnation of the increasing prevalence of antisemitism, observing a worrying parallel to societal trends within the cultural sector. He underscored the centrality of combating antisemitism as a cornerstone of his approach to cultural policy, stressing that it has no place in Germany.