Former Culture Minister Claudia Roth (Green Party) warns her successor, Wolfram Weimer, about a potential right-wing culture war. “I am concerned because the CDU has resurrected the term ‘Leitkultur’ (leading culture). If this becomes the guiding principle for culture policy, we will truly be moving backward” said the Green politician to the “Stern” magazine. “I am worried about words like ‘restoration’ and demands such as the need to clean up culture.” Roth continued, “We are in the midst of a time of culture wars. It is being led from the far-right, where people say we want a supposedly pure German culture, a purely German society.” She emphasized that one cannot avoid this struggle. “I wish Wolfram Weimer to be on the right side of it.”
Roth did not want to give any specific advice to the new Culture Minister. “But I have told him how important, in my view, a broadened cultural concept is. Culture is not just opera. Culture also includes comics, record stores and poetry slams.” She stressed the importance of embracing a diverse and inclusive understanding of culture. “It is crucial to recognize and appreciate the various forms of cultural expression that exist within our society” she concluded. The former minister urged her successor to prioritize inclusivity and diversity in cultural policies and programs. “We must ensure that everyone’s voices and perspectives are heard and valued in the realm of culture” she emphasized. “Only then can we truly celebrate and promote the richness and vibrancy of our diverse society.” Roth called on Weimer to be an advocate for a more inclusive and diverse culture, one that reflects the values of tolerance, respect and equality. “Let us work together to create a culture that embraces and celebrates the diversity that makes us strong as a nation” she concluded.