Weimer Reveals Tightened Race Between Social Democrats, Greens, and AfD Parties
Going for Unity Amidst the Political Divide
Straight-talking Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer (independent) is urging for more unity in Germany's political center. After witnessing the AfD's audacious, often aggressive presence in the Bundestag, the 60-year-old finds himself more inclined towards Social Democrats and the Greens. In an interview with Bascha Mika for "Die Zeit" (Issue 25/2025, June 12), Weimer shared his view: "Democrats believe in the power of argument, we recognize the possibility that the other side might be right. Anti-democrats, on the other hand, wallow in resentment."
A Global Culture War
In a concerning revelation, Weimer talked about global politics and its ominous implications for democratic freedoms. "The four major world powers - China, Russia, India, and the USA - are veering towards authoritarianism and nationalism, with freedom spaces being attacked ruthlessly. This is unlike anything we've seen before," Weimer cautioned. In light of this danger, Weimer, who serves at the Chancellery alongside Friedrich Merz (CDU), believes Germany's political center's divisions are insignificant compared to this threat.
Regarding Weimer's perspective on the global political landscape, he sees the world powers moving towards increased cultural repression, posing a direct challenge to reason, pluralism, and cultural autonomy, akin to an "attack on the Enlightenment."
Weimer isn't alone in his concerns. Hermann Parzinger, a renowned figure, warns of a burgeoning culture war on the Right, gaining traction particularly in Germany, especially at local and state levels. Right-wing forces are reportedly pushing to influence regional cultural programming and appointments, with Parzinger advocating against such divisive developments.
In essence, Weimer worries that the rise of authoritarian and nationalist forces in major powers represents a significant threat to freedom and democracy, leading to cultural repression, even within Western democracies like Germany. He calls for vigilance against these insidious and repressive trends to protect the foundation of the democratic political center.
- Wolfram Weimer, the Culture Minister, expressed his concerns about the increasing authoritarianism and nationalism among the major world powers, particularly in policy-and-legislation, believing it poses a direct challenge to the Enlightenment values of reason, pluralism, and cultural autonomy.
- In the domain of general-news, Hermann Parzinger, a renowned figure, has warned of a growing culture war on the Right, with right-wing forces pushing to influence regional cultural programming and appointments, a trend Parzinger advocates against to maintain unity and cultural diversity in the political center.
