Overview
- Thuringia’s minister-president has announced a lawsuit after the Technische Universität Chemnitz stripped him of his 2008 doctorate, a decision the philosophical faculty says was reached unanimously after reviewing all materials.
- Voigt cites a university-commissioned external expert from February 2025 who found his dissertation met scientific standards, whereas the faculty later applied newly introduced rules that he argues were imposed mid-procedure.
- The objections concern passages equaling about 2.58% of the dissertation, with allegations centered largely on relying on secondary sources rather than originals; Voigt’s lawyers say the claims were disproved.
- The university maintains the external report could not be the sole basis for its ruling, notes the title may be used until the decision is final, and Voigt says he will refrain from using it for now.
- Political fallout is intensifying as the AfD demands his resignation and pursues a no-confidence vote, coalition partners in Erfurt express support pending judicial review, a BSW national official questions his future if courts uphold the revocation, and experts stress there is no percentage threshold for title withdrawal.