Stark-Watzinger rejects accusations of subsidy scandal in the Bundestag
Stark-Watzinger sharply criticized the open letter from May 8th. On June 11th, a report from NDR-Magazine "Panorama" was made public, stating that an investigation into possible consequences, including funding, for the letter signatories was initiated within the ministry. Thousands of researchers and scientists called for the Minister's resignation in response.
The Minister reacted on June 16th by assigning responsibility for the investigation of her Research State Secretary Sabine Doering and announcing her retirement on probation. Stark-Watzinger also emphasized that she had only become aware of the investigation on June 11th due to the NDR report. However, several media reported further that within the Education Ministry, a list of signatories of the open letter, who were directly funded by the ministry, had been created.
In the Education and Research Committee, the FDP politician described three different incidents on Wednesday. State Secretary Doering had ordered a "legal examination" of the letter from the ministry's expert level on May 13th. This could have been understood as a "legal and funding examination". However, Doering had not intended to conduct a funding examination and had not pursued it further.
"Such an examination contradicts the principles of academic freedom," emphasized Stark-Watzinger. This is a high good of our democracy and must be defended. The FDP politician confirmed that she had had no knowledge of a possible funding examination before the NDR report.
As a second incident, Stark-Watzinger spoke of a "legal classification" of the open letter, which she had considered necessary and had ordered on May 17th. This resulted in the finding that the letter was "unambiguously protected by the right to freedom of expression".
The third incident revolves around the list of ministry-funded signatories of the letter. Stark-Watzinger stated that she had only learned of this from corresponding media reports. It had been a "completely separate matter" on the expert level, she emphasized. The list was created to be "representative" towards the press - but "not by me". Who gave the order, Stark-Watzinger wanted to "protect employees" and therefore refused to reveal on multiple inquiries.
Several parliamentarians expressed sharp criticism of the Minister. The CDU politician Thomas Jarzombek spoke of a "highly agitated scientific community" and a "serious damage to trust", which had arisen. "What else must happen for you to resign?" wanted the BSW parliamentarian Ali Al-Dailami from the Minister. She sees "no reason for that," she repeated.
Stark-Watzinger had to answer the questions of the deputies in the Bundestag plenary session during a regular government questioning. There, she confirmed her previous position.
The President of the German Universities Association, Lambert Koch, called for further investigation. "The chapter on the funding affair is not concluded with the committee and government interrogation of Mrs. Stark-Watzinger," he told the "Rheinische Post" (Thursday edition). "Much of what has recently come to light points to serious structural and communicative deficits in the environment of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research."
- Bettina Stark-Watzinger, during the Bundestag plenary session, confirmed her previous position regarding the funding affair, after being questioned about the matter.
- Thomas Jarzombek, a CDU politician, expressed sharp criticism towards Stark-Watzinger, stating that a highly agitated scientific community and serious damage to trust have arisen due to the funding affair.
- Ali Al-Dailami, a BSW parliamentarian, questioned Stark-Watzinger, asking, "What else must happen for you to resign?" in light of the funding affair.
- Lambert Koch, President of the German Universities Association, called for further investigation into the funding affair, stating that much of what has recently come to light points to serious structural and communicative deficits in the environment of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
