The Left party has warned about an impending decline in freedom of information in Germany. Clara Bünger, the deputy chairwoman of the Left faction, told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition) that the plans originating from the Interior Ministry are designed to lead to the de facto end of freedom of information in Germany.
Bünger criticized the aim of Alexander Dobrindt to simply abolish the Federal Commissioner, which would effectively remove the country’s central supervisory body for state transparency. She argued that the Federal Government appears to fear only its own population and critical public scrutiny.
Her critique specifically references a report by the MDR concerning plans within the Interior Ministry, which reportedly include the abolition of the Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information. Discussions about potential restrictions on access to official information had recently ignited heated debate in Germany.
Bünger labeled any future scenario where journalists and parliament members would be unable to view documents as a “real scandal.” She asserted that attempting to restrict access to information portals like “Ask the State” would harm democracy. According to Bünger, the Interior Minister is trying to systematically shield government actions from public oversight. Instead, the Left politician demanded the exact opposite: an authentic transparency law that mandates the state to fully disclose all its actions.
