Minister of Culture, Wolfram Weimer, has warned of Germany sliding toward the far-right and announced a personal “culture war” against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) during his tenure. Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Weimer emphasized that he is not an ideologue, countering claims by left-wing individuals that he is a conservative cultural fighter; instead, he stated he is a “cultural fighter against the AfD.” He asserted that this party is the only target of his cultural struggle.
The non-partisan Minister for Culture and Media urged that the country must prevent this drift toward the far-right, suggesting that this critical need for action might not be recognized by all. He argued that confronting right-wing extremists requires an intellectual and cultural approach.
Weimer focused his concerns on Saxony-Anhalt, where a new state parliament election is scheduled for September 6th, and the AfD currently holds the strongest position according to polls. He stated that culture is being endangered in that region. For example, regarding the Bauhaus Dessau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Weimer connected the AfD’s views to the Nazis, asserting that the party is “in direct continuity with the Nazis.” This remark refers to the AfD’s claims that the Bauhaus represents a “detour of modernity” and that the Nazis had previously closed the school of revolutionary architecture.
Regarding his political future, Weimer confirmed his intention to serve only for this current legislative term. He cited the burden of negative energy in political life and the lack of time for family and private matters as contributing factors to this decision.
