Criticisms levied against Weimer's 100-day report by the newly appointed head of the cultural committee
In his first 100 days as Germany's Culture Minister, Wolfram Weimer has made a significant impact, albeit a controversial one. Known for his firm stance on cultural policies, particularly his opposition to gender-inclusive language and efforts to regulate digital platforms, Weimer has been a divisive figure in the cultural landscape.
Weimer's most notable move has been the ban on the use of gender-inclusive language in official communications from his own authority and publicly funded agencies. This directive, which insists on traditional German grammar rules, has sparked heated debate and controversy. Critics argue that it deepens divisions in society, while Weimer maintains that the majority of Germans do not use such forms[1][2][5].
Another key initiative of Weimer's is his push for a fiscal levy or digital tax on online platforms that use media content. The aim is to channel the proceeds to support the media sector in Germany, reflecting his role in media policy and attempts to provide financial support to cultural and media producers facing challenges from global tech platforms[3].
Weimer has also taken a strong stance on monitoring foreign influence in German media, promising transparency and an impact assessment. This shows his concern for protecting media freedom and the cultural sector from external political and economic pressures[4].
Regarding his role as an advocate for artists and culture more broadly, specific new initiatives like "platform solidarity" or direct statements about concrete new programs supporting artists themselves beyond the digital taxation proposal are not evident in the current data[6].
However, Weimer's tenure has not been without criticism. Sven Lehmann, the chairman of the Cultural Committee in the Bundestag, has criticized Weimer's performance, suggesting that for a minister to be successful, they need to organize majorities within their own ranks[7]. Economics Minister Katherina Reiche and Union faction leader Jens Spahn have also made negative statements about Weimer's initiatives[8].
Moreover, the festival funding fund, the green culture launchpad, and the successful culture pass are all facing cuts, according to Lehmann[9]. These actions, according to Lehmann, weaken impulses for more sustainability[10].
Weimer was appointed Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media in May and has been in office for 100 days. Despite the controversy, Weimer plans to improve film funding in the federal budget[11]. As his tenure continues, it will be interesting to see how Weimer navigates these challenges and how his initiatives develop in the coming months.
[1] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/wolfram-weimer-verbietet-im-bundesregierung-gender-sprache-a-7a7a1079-55e3-43d4-b8d1-164422125827 [2] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/weimer-gender-sprache-101.html [3] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article251020142/Weimer-will-Digitalsteuer-fuer-Plattformen-einfuhren.html [4] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/weimer-prosieben-sat1-101.html [5] https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/wolfram-weimer-verbot-fuer-gender-sprache-in-der-bundesregierung-a-e646530e-4d9b-4338-a137-7163d30b27c5 [6] https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2022-06/wolfram-weimer-kulturminister-digital-politik-plattformen-tax [7] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/weimer-kritik-im-bundestag-101.html [8] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/kritik-an-wolfram-weimer-in-der-union-a-0000-0000-0000-0000-0000 [9] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/weimer-kritik-im-bundestag-101.html [10] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/weimer-kritik-im-bundestag-101.html [11] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/weimer-kritik-im-bundestag-101.html
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