Alexander Straßmeir: Berlin's New State Secretary for Social Cohesion
Berlin appoints veteran lawyer to stabilize troubled Culture Department
Berlin (dpa/bb) – Alexander Straßmeir, the newly appointed State Secretary in Berlin's Department of Culture, has pledged that he does not intend to take on the role for a third time. A trained administrative lawyer, Straßmeir previously served as State Secretary in the city's Justice Department from 2011 to 2016 before assuming his new position on Friday. "I feel deeply honored," he said during his first appearance before the House of Representatives' Culture Committee, adding with a hint of irony: "That said, I'll admit openly—I'd have serious reservations if I were asked to become State Secretary a third time."
The CDU politician, who was brought out of retirement for the post, noted the unusual timing of his appointments: "The odds aren't high. When I first became State Secretary 15 years ago, the senator resigned after just twelve days. Last Friday, Sarah Wedl-Wilson appointed me—and then stepped down the same day." He quipped, "One can only imagine what might happen to the next one."
Straßmeir: A Veteran of Berlin's Civil Service
Straßmeir is no stranger to Berlin's political landscape. Nevertheless, he formally introduced himself to the Culture Committee: "I was born in Berlin and joined the city's administration in November 1989. Since then, I've taken on a variety of roles," he explained. At one point, he also worked for the Protestant Church before moving to the Senate Department for Justice and Consumer Protection. "And as of Friday, I'm here in this building."
Wedl-Wilson resigned as Culture Senator on Friday after Berlin's Court of Auditors ruled that funding allocations for several anti-Semitism initiatives had been unlawful.
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