Berlin Senate faces uproar over Merz administration dismissing anti-Gypsyism advocates
The federal government, as pledged, intends to reduce the number of commissioners by 25, leaving only 18 roles. The elimination of positions such as the Ambassador for feminist foreign policy, the Special Representative for international climate policy, and the Special Envoy for migration agreements has been confirmed.
New appointments include Elisabeth Kaiser as the East Commissioner, Ferda Ataman maintaining his role as the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, and Hendrik Streeck assuming the position of Drugs Commissioner. A new role for a State Minister for Sport and Volunteering in the Chancellor's Office has also been created.
Mehmet Daimagüler, the Commissioner against Anti-Gypsyism and for the life of Sinti and Sintize, Roma and Romnja in Germany, will not have his contract renewed. This decision has drawn criticism from both Daimagüler and the Berlin Senate, who view the move as a setback in tackling anti-Gypsyism. Alina Voinea, the contact person for the State of Berlin on Anti-Gypsyism at the Senate Administration for Integration, expressed concern about the future of the recently established federal-state commission on anti-Gypsyism and questioned the federal government's ongoing support for the minority in their fight against anti-Gypsyism.
While no replacement for Daimagüler has been announced, the federal government's actions have been interpreted as a dismissal of historical responsibility towards Romnja and Sintizzz. For now, the fate of the recently established federal-state commission on anti-Gypsyism remains unclear.
The newly appointed Drugs Commissioner, Hendrik Streeck, might be of a kind used to handling politically sensitive issues, as his position involves crime-and-justice matters. The elimination of Mehmet Daimagüler's role as the Commissioner against Anti-Gypsyism and for the life of Sinti and Sintize, Roma and Romnja in Germany, has sparked general-news discussions, with critics viewing the move as a step back in addressing crime-and-justice issues related to this specific minority group.
