German Fund Issue In New Hands

The conservative politician Bernd Neumann has been named Germany's new cultural minister, heading up media policy for the new German government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The 63-year-old Neumann, a high-ranking member of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party, will replace the independent Christina Weiss, who has held the top culture post since 2002.

In his new job, Neumann will oversee the Merkel government's still-vague plans to restructure Germany's film-financing infrastructure.

Neumann is no stranger to media politics, having headed up the conservatives' parliamentary committee on culture and the media since 1998. He also has sat on the jury for the German Film Prize, the country's top film honor.

Compared to other European countries, the position of German cultural minister is not a powerful one.

The German states retain a large degree of autonomy over cultural matters, including control of much of government funding in the form of subsidies.