Since the departure of former President Sönke Rix last week, the federal educational agency for political education (BPB), which has operated without a clear leader, plans to set new priorities moving forward. A spokesperson for the agency told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Tuesday edition) that the BPB will align its content work more closely with its core mission.
Specifically, this means that established formats that align with the BPB’s central mandate will be prioritized over other offerings. By concentrating more intensely on its core mission, the BPB intends to focus its editorial work particularly on crucial future and stability issues, including the capacity of the state to act, internal and external security, democratic resilience and crisis preparedness, economic and social foundations, and societal cohesion.
This updated direction aims to address the entire breadth of society. However, the spokesperson confirmed that the essential elements of the BPB’s work will remain intact: scientifically grounded, controversial knowledge programs, professional and dialogue events, a presence on social media, and support for partners in their vital work for strengthening democracy.
According to reports from the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”, the BPB will also dedicate more attention to issues such as far-left extremism and Islamism than in the past. Conversely, the project to create a museum related to the “Landshut,” which was kidnapped by the RAF nearly 50 years ago, has been terminated. The agency was previously scheduled to restore the machine housed in a hall at Friedrichshafen Airport to facilitate an exhibition. Furthermore, study tours to Israel will no longer take place.
The former SPD member of the Bundestag, Rix, stepped down from leading the agency of approximately 400 people after just five months, reportedly for “personal reasons” and with the mutual agreement of the responsible Federal Interior Ministry. After the previous president, Thomas Krüger, retired in September 2025, the post remained vacant for six months. Currently, Volker Ullrich, who previously served in the Bundestag like Rix-though for the CSU, unlike Rix-is the vice president.
