In May 2025, the delegate of the German federal government for Culture and Media – a position often likened to the French Minister of Culture – Wolfram Weimer, has been at the center of intense controversy for several weeks.
Every year, his ministry awards the Deutscher Buchhandlungspreis, a prize that recognizes the work of independent bookstores in the country and comes with a grant of several thousand euros to support their activities.
However, the 2025 edition of the award was disrupted by the removal of three businesses from the list of winners shortly after its publication on the Deutscher Buchhandlungspreis website. “Zur schwankenden Weltkugel” in Berlin, “The Golden Shop” in Brörnme, and “Rote Straße” in Göttingen, which were distinguished this year by a jury described as “independent,” were thus removed without further ado.
The Ministry of Culture, which administers the award, has been vague about the reasons behind these withdrawals, citing “elements related to the protection of the Constitution.” The Ministry had reportedly triggered a Haber procedure, which charges the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution with verifying, at the request of federal ministers, whether organizations or individuals seeking public funds pursue or support any unconstitutional aims.
The three excluded bookstores were allegedly targeted by this procedure. Wolfram Weimer, during questioning by a German parliamentary committee on March 4, confirmed this hypothesis, stating: “If we award prizes and financial support using public funds, then, in my opinion, they should not go to enemies of the state or extremists.”
The exclusion of the three bookstores has sparked a wave of solidarity within the book industry, with other awarded stores pooling funds to support them. Various literary organizations, both in Germany and internationally, have condemned these exclusions, including the European Publishers Federation, the International Publishers Association, and the European and International Booksellers Federation.
During a parliamentary debate on March 20, several political figures weighed in on the issue. Sören Pellmann, co-president of the left-wing Die Linke group in the Bundestag, criticized the Ministry for becoming more of a “thought police” rather than a supporter of bookstores.
On the other hand, the Minister of Culture received support from the Christian Democratic Union and conservative right-wing parties, of which he is close. A conservative journalist, Wolfram Weimer owns the Weimer Media Group GmbH and has publicly expressed his views on the cultural decline of Europe and the importance of religion in structuring society.
The far-right also entered the debate, with MP Götz Frömming decrying a “double standard festival” and asserting that the book sector is overwhelmed with censorship demands when it comes to the far right.
On March 25, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his continued confidence in Wolfram Weimer despite the latter’s declining popularity. He acknowledged that the current debate was “difficult,” but emphasized that the Minister had “expressed his opinion and made decisions that, of course, do not please everyone.”
The affected bookstores, along with their lawyers, have taken legal action to challenge the Ministry’s decisions, questioning whether the application of the Haber procedure in this specific case complies with German law.
In light of the circumstances, the bookstore “Zur schwankenden Weltkugel” in Berlin has refuted the extremist label used by the Minister of Culture, emphasizing the implications for freedom of expression and press freedom.
Additionally, the bookstore has taken legal action to prevent the Minister from using such terms in reference to the excluded bookstores. Labeling bookstores with care is essential when engaging in controversies involving them.
Photograph: The bookstore “Zur schwankenden Weltkugel” in Berlin
By Antoine Oury Contact: ao@actualitte.com
