Overview
- The Berlin shop Zur schwankenden Weltkugel has filed an emergency motion to bar Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer from calling the three excluded bookstores “political extremists,” following his move to strike them from the German Bookstore Prize based on intelligence findings.
- Weimer’s lawyer says the “political extremists” line in a recent interview was a general opinion not aimed at any shop, while the bookstore argues he spoke in his official role and that readers could link the remark to them, and it seeks a fine of up to €250,000 for any breach.
- Internal emails reported by Der Spiegel and summarized by WELT and taz show the culture ministry ordered quick compilations of jurors for state-funded awards, raising fears that the names could be vetted by the Verfassungsschutz, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.
- The ministry says it wants only an overview of jury processes and that checks of jurors have not happened and are not planned, yet critics warn the request will chill independent juries and push publicly funded groups toward self-censorship.
- Two associations of Buchenwald survivors’ families asked Weimer to skip a greeting at the 12 April commemoration, but the memorial’s director, the Central Council of Jews, Israel’s ambassador, and Thuringia’s culture minister back his appearance, and he remains scheduled to speak.