Berlin Culture Administration Dismisses Secretary Over Antisemitism Funding Controversy
Oliver Friederici was dismissed from his role as State Secretary for Social Cohesion in Berlin's culture administration due to a conflict regarding funding for projects aimed at preventing antisemitism. Effective Friday, Alexander Straßmeir, who has been called out of retirement, will take over the position. Friederici had served since April 2023 and spent nearly thirty years in the Berlin state parliament representing the CDU. The dispute centers on three million euros allocated for significant political initiatives, with claims of ambiguous criteria and CDU influence. Following the Hamas massacre in October 2023, the CDU-SPD coalition boosted antisemitism funding, but the culture administration faced challenges with legal disbursement. An investigative committee formed in December 2025 is looking into the matter, and a subsequent audit report led to Friederici's removal, as noted by Culture Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson.
Key facts
- Oliver Friederici was dismissed as State Secretary for Social Cohesion in Berlin's culture administration.
- Alexander Straßmeir, former president of the State Office for Health and Social Affairs, was appointed as his successor.
- The dismissal relates to controversies over funding allocation for antisemitism prevention projects totaling around three million euros.
- An investigative committee in Berlin's state parliament was established in December 2025 to examine the funding processes.
- The state audit office's report, set for release on a Friday, influenced the decision to dismiss Friederici.
- Funding was increased after the Hamas massacre in Israel in October 2023 to combat antisemitism in Berlin.
- Allegations include unclear criteria and potential undue political influence from the CDU faction in funding decisions.
- Culture Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson aims to reform funding procedures for the 2026 funding year.
Entities
Institutions
- CDU
- SPD
- Berliner Abgeordnetenhaus
- Kulturverwaltung
- Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales
- Landesamt für Flüchtlingsangelegenheiten
- Landesrechnungshof
- Deutsche Presse-Agentur
- Grünen-Fraktion
- AfD-Fraktion
- evangelische Landeskirche
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany