Felix Klein, the federal government’s antisemitism commissioner, will leave his post this summer to pursue a new assignment. “After roughly eight years in this office and an additional four years spent in the Foreign Ministry dealing with antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance, I felt it was time to focus professionally on another issue” he told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.
Klein, who comes from a diplomatic background, explained that the Foreign Ministry operates on a rotation principle that already schedules a change every four years. “Continuity is essential for doing this work well, but the office also benefits when fresh leadership steps in after a period. It was a unique experience to enter this political role as a civil servant, to establish new structures, and to be the first person in this position” he said.
He added that very few offices place a person at the heart of societal debate as his does. “Combating antisemitism cuts across all ministries. During my tenure I worked with every federal government department, discussed projects, and fought antisemitism” he remarked. “This inevitably sparks controversy. If it weren’t for the debates, it would mean I was wrong in some way. The office cannot be performed quietly; to effect change one has to speak loudly. I have tried as hard as possible to make that voice heard”.
Who will succeed Klein has not yet been decided. “Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told me that he will personally oversee the succession” Klein said. “There are strong candidates, and I am confident that the federal government will make a good choice. It is crucial that the successor has the backing of the Central Council of Jews; without that support, the office cannot be carried out effectively”.
