The German Cultural Council has reacted unexpectedly to the nomination of journalist and media entrepreneur Wolfram Weimer as Minister of Culture for the new black-red federal government.
Olaf Zimmermann, the Managing Director, said on Monday on Radio3 from the RBB: “We must now hope. We did not have him on our idea sketch. He is someone who has been conjured out of a hat and he has not yet worked in the cultural policy field. That means: anything is possible.”
Zimmermann formulated specific demands for Weimer: “The cultural sector is currently under enormous pressure. We need someone, especially in the position of Minister of Culture, who is also strong and effective. And now Herr Weimer will have to prove how strong and effective he is.”
Earlier it had been assumed that Berlin’s Senator for Culture Joe Chialo (CDU) would become the new Minister of Culture. However, Chialo was not chosen for the position. Zimmermann can understand this decision: “Joe Chialo has not been very successful with what he has done. And this is not just about what he has done, but also about how he has done it.”
The 60-year-old Weimer founded the Berlin magazine “Cicero” in 2003 and led it until 2010. From 2012 to 2012, he was also editor-in-chief of the magazine “Focus.”
The office of the Minister of Culture has a wide range of responsibilities, including cultural and artistic promotion, heritage protection, film industry and media, as well as remembrance culture.