Berlin protesters rally against Deutsche Welle's €21 million budget cuts
Berlin/Bonn (dpa) – Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and an Iranian ayatollah cheer arm in arm over budget cuts to Deutsche Welle—a towering effigy of the political trio by carnival artist Jacques Tilly lent striking visual support to protests against austerity measures and job cuts at Germany's international broadcaster. On Monday afternoon, demonstrators marched through central Berlin, with the artwork set to be unveiled at a closing rally near the Brandenburg Gate.
The protest was organized by the Verdi union and the German Journalists' Association (DJV), which are opposing federal funding cuts that will force Deutsche Welle to slash €21 million from its budget by 2026.
In an interview with the German Press Agency (dpa), sculptor Tilly called the decision "political folly." "Deutsche Welle is a vital voice for freedom and democracy in many countries," he said, warning that such cuts would push "liberal foundations" onto the defensive. He drew a direct parallel to former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which had slashed funding for Voice of America. "Germany must not repeat Trump's mistakes," Tilly cautioned.
His criticism carries personal weight: In early April, a Moscow court sentenced Tilly in absentia to eight and a half years in prison for allegedly offending religious sensibilities and spreading "fake news" about the Russian military. The charges stem from his carnival floats, which have sharply satirized Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and Russia's war in Ukraine.
"Germany could not give autocrats like Putin a greater gift," DJV federal chair Mika Beuster told dpa. "At a time when democracy is under global pressure, the federal government is cutting Deutsche Welle's budget instead of increasing it."
Verdi also warned of severe losses in reach, "while voices of disinformation grow louder." The union urged Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer to secure adequate funding for the broadcaster.
A spokesperson for Weimer told dpa that the €10 million reduction in federal funding for 2026 was decided "through parliamentary proceedings." They noted that the government had previously increased Deutsche Welle's budget by €15 million for 2025, bringing it to a total of €425 million. Over the past eight years—from 2018 to 2025—federal funding for the broadcaster has risen by nearly €100 million.
Asked about next steps, the spokesperson said the government is currently drafting the 2027 federal budget "under the sign of further fiscal consolidation," making detailed predictions impossible at this stage.
Speaking at the Central German Media Days in Leipzig, Weimer emphasized Deutsche Welle's critical role: "In these times, as we witness wars, madness, autocracy, and attacks on freedom around the globe, Deutsche Welle—as a voice of freedom—is absolutely essential. We must strengthen it."
In February, Deutsche Welle Director General Barbara Massing had already warned that the cuts would be "extremely painful," undermining the broadcaster's competitiveness at a time when a strong German and European media presence is geopolitically vital.
The austerity measures include the closure of the Greek-language service, reductions in journalistic output across other languages, widespread staff cuts, and a sharp decline in investment funding.
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