Kretschmann: More funding for anti-Semitism commissioner
Minister President Winfried Kretschmann wants to better equip the state government's anti-Semitism commissioner, Michael Blume. "We want to ensure that the anti-Semitism commissioner can further intensify his work in the future," said the Green politician in the state parliament in Stuttgart on Thursday. Blume must also be well equipped to do this. "We want to and will do more," announced Kretschmann, without giving exact details. Previously, the heads of the Green-Black government factions, Andreas Schwarz and Manuel Hagel, had also called for the anti-Semitism commissioner to be upgraded.
Kretschmann praised the work of Blume, who has been the state government's anti-Semitism commissioner since 2018 - according to Kretschmann, the first commissioner of this kind in Germany at the time. "We benefit greatly from this. Especially now, in this dramatic situation," said the Minister President.
On Thursday, the state parliament debated the report of the anti-Semitism commissioner in plenary on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Nazi pogrom night of 1938. Synagogues and Jewish stores in Germany were set on fire and destroyed during the pogrom night 85 years ago.
The anti-Semitism commissioner, Michael Blume, has played a significant role in the Parliament since his appointment in 2018, being the first commissioner of this kind in Germany. Despite the historical conflicts and the increasing need to address anti-Semitism, the state government is looking to further equip Blume to intensify his work, as confirmed by Minister President Winfried Kretschmann.
Source: www.dpa.com
