Thousands Swiftly Sign Anti-Weimer Petition by Artists' Collective Ensemble Network
Swift Gathering of Signatures for Counterproposal against Weimar Plan - Protests Against Weimer Gather Signature Support in Large Numbers
Take a gander, mate!
In a swift whirlwind, the "Ensemble Network" of performing artists has garnered over 26,000 signatures on their petition against Wolfram Weimer, the conservative politician nominated for the role of Minister of State for Culture and Media by the Federal Government. Titled, "Wolfram Weimer should not become Minister of State for Culture and Media!"
The petition's initiator, Paul Maximilian Pira, questioned Weimer's qualifications in the ZDF. Weimer has been a journalist for many years and has owned his publishing house since 2012, a position he claims to have since relinquished.
The petition expresses doubts, stating: "Wolfram Weimer lacks the necessary credentials for this central office of cultural policy. As a conservative publisher with scant cultural exposure, he is an inappropriate choice."
Pira told the ZDF, "We are thrilled that so many people have now signed this petition." This move sends a powerful message.
Weimer was appointed by the designated Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday, drawing reservations from the cultural community due to his highly conservative past statements, and fears of potential budget cuts to culture. Actors like Ulrich Matthes have expressed concern that Weimer might push for a narrow, ideologically-driven cultural agenda.
"I am a man of the bourgeois center"
Weimer has since dismissed the criticism, telling the German Press Agency, "My goal is to support and strengthen the diverse cultural landscape. Anyone expecting me to focus solely on budgetary matters will be disappointed."
Weimer also emphasized, "I am a man of the bourgeois center." Over the years, he has publicly spoken out against the far-right party, the AfD, and right-wing populism. The liberal, open-minded democracy is his preferred ideology. As a committed European, nationalism holds no allure for him.
- Wolfram Weimer
- Petition
- Federal Government
- Artists
- Publisher
- Lobbying concerns
- Censorship risks
- Cultural credentials
- The artists' collective Ensemble Network has published an anti-Weimer petition, urging the Federal Government to reconsider the nomination of Wolfram Weimer as Minister of State for Culture and Media.
- Paul Maximilian Pira, the initiator of the petition, questions Weimer's vocational training and qualifications for the role, given his background as a publisher.
- The petition expresses concerns that Weimer lacks the necessary credentials for this central office of cultural policy, citing his lack of cultural exposure and potential ideologically-driven cultural agenda.
- Thousands of artists have swiftly signed the petition, sending a powerful message to the Federal Government, expressing their lobbying concerns and potential risks of censorship in the cultural community.
