Berlin cultural policy | Stefan Evers: Senator for Culture undercover

Photo: dpa/Britta Pedersen Vanessa Emde: Yes, no, maybe? For a long time, the left was unable to make such a complete decision (and enforce it). And the other parties know how to capitalize politically on this. Some call this a campaign, others call it the business of parliamentary democracy.

In any case, all the intense discussions about a red-green-red Berlin state government under the leadership of Elif Eralp have almost made us forget that there is also an incumbent government. Do you still know who Stefan Evers is? That's right, the CDU's hapless mayoral candidate. Also right, Berlin's Finance Senator.

Wasn't there something else? But yes, after the disastrous behavior of Culture Senator Joe “Kahlschlag” Chialo (CDU) and his non-party short-term successor Sarah Wedl-Wilson, Evers jumped into the breach and also took over this post. At least nominally.

It wasn't really noticeable that someone was addressing pressing questions here, taking a stand for culture in the House of Representatives or even being visible - in the concert, at the exhibition opening, at the theater premiere. What Evers wanted to do with Berlin's culture was something he had already done in his office as Finance Senator: save, save, save.

It's surprising that shortly before the presumed end of a cultural-political career, Stefan Evers is bursting with commitment. As the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" announced, Iris Laufenberg's contract as director at the Deutsches Theater, which expires in 2028, was quickly extended. The stage, which is heavily in economic deficit, has recently come under repeated criticism because of its declining artistic quality. Even in view of this fact, this sudden political activism seems at least astonishing.

Evers also devoted himself to the Unter den Linden State Opera: the contracts of artistic director Elisabeth Sobotka and her general music director, the conservative Arch-Wagnerian Christian Thielemann, were extended until the mid-1930s without anyone feeling the need for action yet. The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reports that this strange step was rumored to have been taken at the request of Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer.

It's no secret: the culturally neglected CDU is leaving Berlin in artistic ruins. The cosmopolitan charm of this city with an abundance of upscale entertainment is just the illusion of a bygone era. The fact that contract extensions are now being signed with a light hand does not show any cultural-political effort, but rather that the so-called conservatives have long been indifferent to what role Berlin plays culturally. However, people do want to have a say in the allocation of positions.

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