Transition of Leadership at Seven-Pipper Foundation
In a significant shift, Bernd Käpplinger has been elected as the new chairman of the Siebenpfeiffer Foundation, a renowned organisation dedicated to the democratic heritage of the Hambach Festival and the freedom movements of the 19th century. Käpplinger succeeds Dr. Theophil Gallo, who stepped down after a decade of service.
In his farewell speech, Gallo called for vigilance against anti-democratic trends, particularly in relation to the Hambach Festival's democratic heritage. He expressed concern about attempts by right-wing circles to appropriate this historical legacy.
The Siebenpfeiffer Foundation, under Käpplinger's leadership, has declared its goal of keeping the democratic heritage alive and developing it in a future-oriented manner. The new chapter signifies a continuation of the foundation's mission to preserve and develop the democratic heritage.
Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Kreutz, the current chairman of the Hambach Society for Historical Research and Political Education, is being praised for its tireless commitment. The society, an organisation dedicated to the democratic heritage of the Hambach Festival, is also receiving high recognition for its perseverance.
The Siebenpfeiffer Foundation is supported by several cities and districts, including Lahr in the Black Forest, Rastatt, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Bad Dürkheim, Kusel, and Kaiserslautern. It also counts the Saarpfalz district, the cities of Homburg and Zweibrücken, journalist associations, and other significant cities and districts among its supporters.
The foundation has successfully fended off all attempts on a legal path, but requires constant vigilance and continuous commitment. It is now under Käpplinger's leadership that the foundation plans to expand educational programs, increase public engagement, and enhance its role in contemporary political discourse. The aim is to ensure that it remains relevant and impactful in addressing current societal challenges.
The 17th Siebenpfeiffer Prize was awarded in March at the parliamentary tract of the Homburg Forum to journalists Sophie Maier and Jan N. Lorenzen for their critical and courageous reporting on the AfD. Simone Wagenhaus received a special prize at the ceremony.
The New Year's reception was reviewed, during which SR Intendant Martin Grasmuck discussed the role of public broadcasting in democracy. The Siebenpfeiffer Foundation's work in promoting democracy, political education, and historical research continues to be a cornerstone in upholding the democratic values that the Hambach Festival represents.
The new chairman of the Siebenpfeiffer Foundation, Bernd Käpplinger, has emphasized the importance of maintaining the democratic heritage of the Hambach Festival, addressing concerns raised by Dr. Theophil Gallo about right-wing appropriation of this historical legacy. Under Käpplinger's leadership, the foundation plans to expand educational programs, increase public engagement, and further its role in policy-and-legislation and politics, ensuring relevance and impact in contemporary general-news discourse.
