Rostock University: education and research central institution - Senator Schreiner loses doctorate and steps down.
One year into his term, Berlin's chief mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), has lost a crucial ally in the black-red Senate - Environment and Transport senator Manja Schreiner. Schreiner stepped down on Tuesday following the revocation of her doctorate after allegations of plagiarism surfaced. Wegner expressed his regret upon receiving her resignation. He also announced plans to find a successor, emphasizing the need for thoroughness over speed.
Schreiner, aged 46, held a pivotal role as the Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection, and the Environment. With a multitude of controversial issues surrounding urban transport, she oversaw a sprawling department. Critics claimed that Schreiner shifted towards a more pro-car transportation policy, contrary to the previous red-green-red government's steps towards an ecological transformation in urban transportation.
Wegner, the head of government, reiterated the priority for a successor to maintain their commitment to this non-ideological transport policy, emphasizing the protection of all road users.
At a morning press conference, the lawyer admitted that the University of Rostock would revoke the doctorate she earned in 2007. She thereby requested her dismissal, expressing the belief that this was the best way to safeguard the Berlin Senate. She felt a strong sense of responsibility towards the city and its people.
The decision to revoke Schreiner's doctorate followed reports of numerous unmarked text passages copied from other works. The University justified its choice, clarifying that the extent and quality of the copied text overshadowed her own contributions, failing to meet the academic thesis requirements. This conclusion was reached unanimously by the Faculty Council.
Despite her dissertation's issues, Schreiner insisted that she never intentionally deceived or cheated, contemplating filing an appeal as a private individual. Schreiner, an ex-deputy state chairwoman of the Berlin CDU and a confidant of Wegner, was initially recruited to the new black-red Senate from the private sector in 2023 April.
In mid-2023, it emerged that her dissertation could be marked as a potential plagiarism case, concerning a topic about "Employee consideration in takeover law." Schreiner sought a review of her thesis by the university in early August 2023.
The incident gained notoriety thanks to a legal journal article, which detailed the practice of unclear citation, known as "pawns." Schreiner's work was cited as a classic example of this.
While the university admitted to the majority of properly cited and quoted sources in her dissertation, it asserted that the influence of copied text passages on the overall thesis proved excessive. This violation of the requirement for self-study and originality prompted the withdrawal of her doctorate.
Schreiner is not the first Berlin politician to be implicated in a plagiarism controversy. Senator for Economic Affairs and former Mayor Franziska Giffey faced similar allegations, prompting her to resign in early 2021. The state's SPD elected her as the head of the party afterwards, despite the revocation of her political science doctorate. The controversial decision sparked public disapproval.
Reacting to Schreiner's resignation, Giffey highlighted her understanding of the step and respect towards her former colleague. Wegner, meanwhile, hailed Schreiner as a passionate advocate for Berlin's traffic transformation. Her tireless work to promote a policy that considered all road users was a testament to her dedication to the cause.
According to Left Party parliamentary group leaders, Schreiner's resignation was understandable, given the severity of the situation. However, some politicans expressed greater understanding. Graf, from the Green Party, believed that resignation was necessary given the revoked doctorate. "Those who have deceived and abused privileges, must accept the consequences," he stated. Anne Helm and Carsten Schatz, on the other hand, held a milder stance, remarking that the political importance of Schreiner's term was not stellar.
AfD's parliamentary group leader Kristin Brinker remarked that Schreiner's resignation displays political decency. Her action stands in comparison to other politicians who hold onto their positions in the face of more significant issues.
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Source: www.stern.de
