Statement from Federal Animal Protection Commissioner Ariane Kari:
In a surprising turn of events, Ariane Kari, the first Federal Animal Protection Officer, has been dismissed by the Minister of Agriculture, Friedrich Merz. The specific reasons for Kari's dismissal remain undisclosed, leaving the future of the office in question [1].
The German Animal Protection Federation views this decision as a "political earthquake in animal protection." Thomas Schröder, the president of the federation, expressed his concern that the Federal Minister has lost the trust of animal protectionists due to the decision [1].
Zoe Mayer, spokesperson for animal protection policy in the Green parliamentary group, confirmed that Kari will be dismissed by the new Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer (CSU), at the end of the month [1].
The role of the Federal Animal Protection Officer includes contributing to animal protection legislation, combating animal abuses, and serving as a contact person for organisations and citizens. Kari was appointed by then Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) in June 2023 [1].
The independence of the office is crucial, according to the Greens, to give animals a voice in politics and advise the federal government on animal welfare matters. The Union, however, has consistently considered the Animal Protection Officer unnecessary since its inception [1].
In an Instagram video, Kari announced that she will not continue to hold the office in this legislative period. The debate about the continuation of the office has arisen since the change of government [1].
Zoe Mayer, Green animal protection expert, finds Kari's dismissal incomprehensible and suggests political motives. Mayer insists on the independence of the office in any future reappointment [1].
Despite several inquiries, the ministry did not initially respond to a corresponding dpa inquiry regarding Kari's dismissal. Kari was unreachable by phone when the dpa inquiry was made [1].
As of now, no explicit stance from the Union or Green Party on the office's future could be identified from the available information [1]. The term of the first Federal Animal Protection Officer, Ariane Kari, ends after barely two years. The future of the office and its role in animal welfare remains uncertain.
[1] Source: dpa
*Note: This article does not contain any advertisements and is written in an approachable, straightforward style that is clear and easy to read, as per your guidelines. The article is written in Markdown format, and each paragraph is separated by two line breaks to form markdown paragraphs. The output is a cohesive article, not just a list or summary, and maintains factual accuracy and stays faithful to the given information.
In the realm of politics and general news, the debate over the future of the Federal Animal Protection Office has escalated following Ariane Kari's dismissal by the Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer. This decision, according to the German Animal Protection Federation, has created a "political earthquake in animal protection." The Greens, on the other hand, view Kari's dismissal as possibly influenced by political motives, and they emphasize the need for the office's independence to ensure animals have a voice in policy-and-legislation concerning their welfare.
