Germany: Cem Özdemir Minister for Education and Research; resignation of B. Stark-Watzinger

Cem Özdemir is appointed Minister for Education and Research on 07/11/2024. A member of the Green Party, he takes over Bettina Stark-Watzinger's portfolio while retaining his post as Minister for Agriculture.

Bettina Stark-Watzinger (from the Free Democratic Party), announced her resignation after Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner the previous day, bringing to an end the coalition government between Liberals, Social Democrats and Greens that had been in place since December 2021.

The disagreements centre on budgetary policy. Member of the same liberal party as Christian Lindner, Bettina Stark-Watzinger declared on social media: "The Chancellor's ultimatum to abandon the debt brake was a calculated rupture with our convictions. Christian Lindner's dismissal is tantamount to the end of our participation in the government."

Bettina Stark-Watzinger's term of office is marked by delays in setting up the Dati (German Agency for Transfer and Innovation) and heated debates over her stance against researchers critical of Israel, in the context of the…