Speculations surrounding potential impeachment procedures - Critique directed towards the President of the University of Göttingen
Criticism is piling up against the duties of the University of Göttingen's president. According to a report acquired by the German Press Agency, University President Metin Tolan has lost the confidence of the University Senate. Last week, Lower Saxony's Science Minister Falko Mohrs (SPD) validated whispers of Tolan's potential elimination in an interview with the "Göttinger Tageblatt". Nevertheless, influential supporters are opposed to his elimination.
The Senate and the University chose not to comment on the matter. "In order to benefit everyone, we don't want any public escalation," stated Senate spokesperson Ramin Yahyapour. "We don't comment on rumors in principle," stated a university spokesperson. Previously, the "Göttinger Tageblatt" and the "Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine" had reported on this.
Document: No second term for Tolan
The document, penned by the voting committee members and acquired by the German Press Agency, reveals that the university's situation is extremely dire. It discusses a profound crisis of trust and leadership, as well as an uncertain future strategy. The document, dated late August, mentions that Tolan will not be re-elected in 2026. The majority of voting committee members do not see him as fitting for the university's future. The cause behind this is the Georg-August-University's failure in the Excellence Initiative in February and the reactions that followed. In February, all five applications of the University of Göttingen for new funding as an excellence cluster were rejected.
Professors and economics minister against elimination
In an additional letter, professors and professors from various faculties and Max Planck Institutes expressed their opposition to the president's elimination. The group warns "urgently against measures that could hinder the presidency's ability to act in the long term," the document reads. The current situation cannot be improved by short-term personnel adjustments.
Minister Mohrs declined to provide further comment and referred to his interview with the "Göttinger Tageblatt". In the interview, Mohrs emphasized that the university president has his trust. "I believe that the university is not served well at the moment by attacking the presidency's ability to act," he said. The parties involved should focus on addressing the university's crucial strategic developments together.
In the end, he did not exclude a state-appointed president overpowering the Senate. "If one has to live with the continual threat of unexpected questioning as a person instead of engaging in a factual discussion, that's difficult," said Mohrs. However, he also underscored that universities' autonomy is constitutionally protected.
The document discussing the University of Göttingen's future strategy was drafted by the voting committee members in Lower Saxony. Despite the university's failure in the Excellence Initiative and the subsequent rejections of all funding applications, Minister Falko Mohrs of Lower Saxony's SPD party still supports University President Metin Tolan.
