Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer was booed by parts of the audience at the opening ceremony of the Leipzig Book Fair. His speech at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig was also repeatedly interrupted by heckling. The criticism of Weimer is primarily directed at his decision to remove three left-wing bookshops from the list of nominees for the German Book Trade Prize due to "findings relevant to the protection of the constitution".
Weimer defends his actions
Weimer defended his approach to the Book Trade Prize. "I myself have passionately fought for freedom of expression as a journalist and publisher for half my life. Again and again and especially against the encroaching state," he said. "But the category of freedom and the category of promotion are two completely different things. Let's be very clear."
When it comes to active promotion with taxpayers' money, the state has a duty of care. "If the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has findings that the free democratic basic order is being violated, does the state then have to provide support?" asked Weimer. "My state should reject all extremists equally: Right-wing, left-wing, Islamists." Weimer suggested further developing the book trade prize with the Börsenverein and other partners.
