Funding affair - MPs question Stark-Watzinger in the Education Committee
Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger once again dismissed questions regarding a resignation in relation to the funding affair. "I see no reason for that", said the FDP politician in the Education Committee of the Bundestag in response to a corresponding question from MP Ali Al-Dailami of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).
The Minister was summoned to the committee meeting to answer open questions. The matter concerns whether and how she was involved in proceedings at her house in connection with a protest letter from Berlin lecturers who criticized the eviction of a pro-Palestinian camp at the Free University of Berlin.
Stark-Watzinger upholds criticism in open letter
Stark-Watzinger had criticized the letter from the academics and continues to do so, as she believes the writing downplays the terror of Hamas in her opinion. Later, emails from her ministry became public, revealing that someone at a high level in the house had requested an investigation into whether the ministry could withdraw funding from the letter writers.
The idea was quickly dropped. Stark-Watzinger resigned after the matter became public, but from a state secretary who had ordered the investigation. She herself did not issue it and did not want it.
Funding not based on political worldview
Such an investigation would contradict the principles of academic freedom, said Stark-Watzinger in the committee. Funding would not be given based on political worldview.
The FDP politician defended her content-related criticism of the letter again: This is an opinion piece, which she had opposed and presented an opposing opinion. "An opinion has no right to approval."
Minister: Name list was known to me only after June 11
In the debate, there is also a question of whether the Minister was involved in the creation of a list of signatories of the letter who were associated with the ministry, such as through funding. This overview was not commissioned by her and was created and remained on the specialist level, said Stark-Watzinger.
She herself became aware of it only after June 11. According to her statement, the same applies to the email with the investigation order. Opposition politicians doubt that the Minister was not involved in these proceedings. CDU MP Thomas Jarzombek accused Stark-Watzinger in the committee meeting of not answering his questions.
- Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger has been summoned to the Education Committee of the Bundestag to answer questions regarding an ongoing funding affair.
- The matter concerns the role of Stark-Watzinger in proceedings connected to a protest letter from Berlin lecturers about the removal of a pro-Palestinian camp at the Free University of Berlin.
- Stark-Watzinger had initially criticized the letter, but later publicized emails revealing someone at a high level in her ministry had requested an investigation into whether the ministry could withdraw funding from the letter writers.
- The Minister has since resigned from a state secretary who had ordered the investigation, but she herself did not issue it and did not want it.
- Stark-Watzinger defends her content-related criticism of the letter, stating it is an opinion piece, and believes an opinion has no right to approval.
- She claims the name list of signatories of the letter associated with the ministry was unknown to her until after June 11, and the same applies to the email with the investigation order.
- Stark-Watzinger maintains that the idea of funding revocation based on political worldview contradicts the principles of academic freedom.
- In the committee meeting, opposition politicians such as CDU MP Thomas Jarzombek accuse Stark-Watzinger of not fully answering questions, hinting at possible involvement in the proceedings.
