Berlin's SPD party will be spearheaded by Giffey in any upcoming elections
Franziska Giffey Stands Firm Amidst Reopened Plagiarism Case
In a surprising turn of events, the plagiarism case against Franziska Giffey, the chairwoman of the Berlin SPD and top candidate for the election to the House of Representatives, has been reopened. This development, according to Giffey, is a unique occurrence in Germany.
The state executive committee of the SPD unanimously nominated Giffey as their top candidate for the election, demonstrating their continued support for her. In response to the reopened plagiarism case, Giffey stated, "I and the SPD can rely on each other no matter what happens."
Initially, the plagiarism case was closed in October 2019, and Giffey was allowed to keep her doctoral title. However, two expert opinions, one commissioned by the AfD and the other by the CDU, led to its reopening. Giffey has expressed incomprehension about this decision.
In light of the reopened case, Giffey has announced that she will no longer use her doctoral title. Despite the ongoing proceedings, she intends to keep her offices. Giffey had initially stated that she would resign as a minister if the university revoked her doctoral degree, but she no longer wishes to comment on that.
It is not uncommon in Germany for universities to review or reopen plagiarism investigations if new evidence emerges or if procedural issues are identified. However, specific information about precedents related to Giffey’s case is not provided in the search results. The University of Potsdam, where Giffey's doctoral thesis was examined, is an example of a university that reopened a case under such circumstances.
Giffey was elected as the SPD's state chairwoman with 89.4 percent of the votes in the state party conference. She has held this position since 2019, demonstrating the strong support she enjoys within the party. Despite the challenges presented by the plagiarism case, Giffey remains determined and focused on her political goals.
Other political parties, such as the AfD and CDU, have commissioned expert opinions that led to the reopening of Franziska Giffey's plagiarism case, a topic that has moved into the realm of policy-and-legislation and general news. Amidst the reopened case, Giffey has announced she will no longer use her doctoral title, yet she intends to keep her offices, demonstrating her perseverance despite the ongoing proceedings.
