Berlin’s top culture official, British-born Sarah Wedl-Wilson, has resigned over a funding scandal involving the irregular distribution of €2.6 million in public money meant for programs to fight antisemitism.
As culture senator for the Berlin regional government, Wedl-Wilson had already fired a state secretary in her department, Oliver Friederici, over the issue this week. But the opposition called him a mere scapegoat.
The city’s mayor, Kai Wegner, who is fighting a tough re-election battle in September, said on Friday that he accepted her resignation.
“Sarah Wedl-Wilson has taken political and personal responsibility – and she deserves respect for that,” said Wegner. He now needs to find a replacement to run the department, which has an annual budget of €110 million, for the remaining five months of his term.
Wedl-Wilson, who had resisted taking the blame for weeks, said earlier on Friday that she was stepping down “above all to prevent harm to the vital fight against rising antisemitism in Berlin.”
A state auditor’s report released this week found that the funds were “arbitrarily” and “clearly unlawfully” given to 13 projects on a list drawn up by lawmakers from the co-ruling Christian Democrats (CDU). This happened despite concerns from culture office staff that the groups had not been properly checked.
Media reports said Friederici, whom Wedl-Wilson fired on Tuesday, was one of the most outspoken whistleblowers.
Wedl-Wilson, who is not a member of any political party, approved the funding after pressure from CDU representatives.
The public inquiry focused on recipients like the Zera Institute, an “interdisciplinary thinktank,” which received €390,000 in public support.
Soon after it was founded in 2024, the director, Maral Salmassi, called Jewish billionaire philanthropist George Soros – a frequent target of antisemitic propaganda – a “parasite” on social media, according to news magazine Der Spiegel. She later apologized.
Last September, Salmassi compared the Guardian to the Nazi publication Der Stürmer over a report in which Israelis were asked about their views on the war in Gaza. She described her comments as a “polemical provocation.”
Matthias J Becker, who was hired by the institute to research antisemitism online, allegedly falsely claimed to work at the University of Cambridge, Der Spiegel said. He told the magazine he had not misrepresented his affiliations.
After the report, Salmassi posted a statement on the institute’s website condemning a “politically motivated press campaign” against her and the organization.
The review by the Berlin auditing office that led to Wedl-Wilson’s resignation focused on how the funding was awarded to the 13 groups, not on the quality of their work. It now needs to be decided whether the organizations will have to repay any public money they received.
Wedl-Wilson, who holds British and Austrian nationality and has a background in classical music management, took office last May. She succeeded Joe Chialo of the CDU, who stepped down after major cuts to arts subsidies in the capital.
She thanked Wegner for trusting her as a political outsider. “As a British woman and an independent, it was by no means a given that I could hold and shape this office,” she said.
German officials have raised concerns about a sharp rise in antisemitic offenses since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian activists have argued that the definition of such acts is too broad and also covers criticism of the Israeli government.
Werner Graf, the opposition Green party’s candidate to unseat Wegner, said the affair had damaged the fight against anti-Jewish hatred in Berlin, the city where the Holocaust was planned.
“This has caused immeasurable damage not only to the fight against antisemitism, but also to trust in the government,” he said.”Trust in democratic institutions as a whole,” he said in a statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the resignation of Berlins culture minister following the mishandling of funds meant to fight antisemitism
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q Why did Berlins culture minister resign
A She resigned because her office mismanaged public money that was supposed to be used to fight antisemitism The funds were not distributed properly and the mistake led to a loss of public trust
Q What exactly was the mishandling of the funds
A The ministry failed to properly track or allocate the money Some reports suggest funds were not paid out to the intended projects or were given out without proper oversight which meant the money didnt effectively fight antisemitism as planned
Q Who was the minister who resigned
A The minister was Joe Chialo a member of the Christian Democratic Union
Q Is this a big deal for Berlin
A Yes Its a major political embarrassment especially because the funds were meant to protect Jewish communities and combat rising antisemitism The scandal has raised serious questions about how the city government manages sensitive social programs
Advanced Questions
Q What specific failure led to the resignation
A The immediate trigger was a report from Berlins audit office which found serious deficiencies in how the 360 Prevention of Antisemitism program was administered Specifically grants were approved without proper legal checks and there was a lack of documentation for how millions of euros were spent
Q How much money was involved and where did it go
A The program was worth around 13 million per year The scandal centers on allegations that some funds went to projects with unclear ties to fighting antisemitism or that the application and approval process was so chaotic that legitimate projects were left unfunded
Q What are the practical consequences of this resignation for Berlins cultural scene
A The scandal has frozen trust in the Berlin Senates cultural department It may lead to a temporary halt in new funding for antiantisemitism projects and it will likely result in much stricter oversight and auditing of all future grants It also damages Berlins reputation as a responsible steward of public money
Q Could this affect the fight against antisemitism in Berlin
