News from Berlin
“Clearly illegal”
The Berlin State Audit Office considers the allocation of funding for antisemitism projects to be “clearly illegal.” Its report mentions that the cultural affairs department under Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson (independent, affiliated with the CDU) committed systematic errors, violating budgetary obligations and breaking laws. Project selection is particularly problematic because they were only formally reviewed by the administration, not substantively, at the express request of CDU members of parliament and Senators Joe Chialo (CDU) and his successor, Sarah Wedl-Wilson (independent, affiliated with the CDU), who ultimately signed off on the funding decisions. On April 24, Wedl-Wilson offered her resignation. Source: taz
Associations see cultural funding in Berlin at risk
Following the resignation of Berlin’s Senator for Culture, Sarah Wedl-Wilson, Franziska Stoff, chair of the Berlin Cultural Conference, is demanding swift stability at the top of the cultural administration. The cultural sector warns against cuts and demands their reversal. “The overall situation is, of course, a threat to cultural funding in the city and to culture as a whole,” she declared to the rbb24 Inforadio. According to its own description, the Berlin Culture Conference is the largest alliance of Berlin cultural associations, which sees itself as a direct point of contact for politics and administration. Source: rbb
Thousands demonstrate for Shah’s son Reza Pahlavi and demand Coup in Iran
Iranian opposition politician Reza Pahlavi was in Berlin on April 23 for political talks. According to the police, around 9,500 of his supporters gathered in the afternoon in front of the Reichstag building. The rally for the son of the last Iranian Shah was peaceful. Police also reported that about 100 counter-demonstrators were present. Pahlavi was pelted with red liquid at midday. The incident occurred after Pahlavi had appeared at the Federal Press Conference. Security forces arrested the suspected attacker shortly after the incident. Police reported that the arrested man had no prior criminal record. Source: rbb
Jewish Voice temporarily excluded from domestic intelligence report
The pro-Palestinian association Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East may not be classified as a confirmed extremist organization by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Germany’s domestic intelligence agency), as it was in the 2024 report. This was the ruling of the Berlin Administrative Court in preliminary injunction proceedings on April 27. The judges justified their decision by stating that the classification as a confirmed extremist organization lacked a sufficient factual basis. An appeal against this ruling can be filed with the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg. Source: deutschlandfunk
News from Germany
Draft law to criminalize denying Israel’s right to exist
Hesse’s Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) and Justice Minister Christian Heinz (CDU) have presented a draft law that would criminalize the denial of the State of Israel’s right to exist. Establishing and maintaining a safe haven for Jews is, according to Minister Heinz, “essential to the identity” of the constitutional order of the Federal Republic of Germany. The draft law will be introduced by the State of Hesse to the Federal Council on May 8. Source: hessen.de
Germany reveals first-ever military strategy for Bundeswehr
The German Bundeswehr has for the first time officially implemented a military strategy, citing an increasingly dangerous international situation. “Rarely has a military strategy been as necessary as it is in this historic period,” affirmed Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) during the presentation in Berlin. According to the military strategy, Russia represents “the greatest and most immediate threat for the foreseeable future” to Germany and transatlantic security. The document then goes on to analyze how the Bundeswehr should respond to potential war scenarios, though the details are largely classified. Source: dw
Record global military spending—Germany ranks 4th
Last year, global military spending reached an all-time high. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), countries invested a total of approximately €2.5 trillion. This marks the eleventh consecutive year of military spending increases. According to SIPRI, Germany invested around €97 billion in its armed forces last year. This represents a quarter more than in 2024—only the US, China, and Russia spent more. The European NATO member states increased their investments by around 14% to €476 billion, according to the report. This is the largest increase since the early years of the military alliance. Source: deutschlandfunk
Suspected far-right attacks in Cottbus keep State Security busy
In Cottbus, suspected far-right attacks on institutions and individuals are currently on the rise. Police confirmed that a flare was ignited in the hallway of an alternative housing project shortly before midnight on April 27. Due to the smoke, all residents had to temporarily evacuate the building. No one was injured. On the same night, the synagogue in Cottbus was defaced with a large swastika. On April 24, unknown individuals had already painted an antisemitic slogan on the building’s wall. The State Security Department of the police, responsible for politically motivated crimes, is investigating these and other cases in Cottbus. Source: rbb
