Publication: Friede Springer should become an honorary citizen of Berlin

2024-08-20 17:25:38

A big honor for an entrepreneur: Berlin mayor Kai Wegner wants to give Friede Springer an honorary citizen. He is “a very successful Berlin entrepreneur who takes on challenges and takes social responsibility.”

He has done outstanding services to the German capital – and he has to receive a special award for this: the publisher Friede Springer is to be awarded an honorary citizen of Berlin.

State of Berlin shareThe black-red parliament wants to propose the businessman as a new honorary citizen to the House of Representatives on the initiative of Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU). She was the widow of the founder of the publishing house Axel Springer (1912 – 1985) and continued to run the house after his death. The vice chairman of the supervisory board of Axel Springer SE (which includes WELT, “Bild”) has also started several foundations.

The Senate highlighted the work of the Friede Springer Heart Foundation, which promotes research into the causes and development of measures to prevent cardiovascular diseases. And praise the Friede Springer Foundation, whose purpose is to promote science, art and culture, education, general and vocational training and other charitable purposes.

Wegner shares: “Friede Springer is a role model for all of us. He is a very successful Berlin businessman who accepts challenges and carries social responsibility. ” For many years he has been committed to the community through the foundations he runs. “Friede Springer has made outstanding contributions to the city of Berlin with her dedication and deserves our great respect,” he continued.

Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer SE, explains: “With this noble citizen, Berlin is honoring a person who stood by Berlin when it was not yet a zeitgeist, but rather an anomaly. Like very few people, Friede Springer stood for freedom and a liberal press as non-negotiable aspects of democracy. Without Friede Springer our media landscape would be simpler. And Berlin anyway. “

The House of Representatives still has to discuss the decision; According to Berlin, anyone who has made a significant contribution to the city can become an honorary citizen.

ll with dpa