After Yücel's resignation: calls for personnel PEN renewal
Created: 05/14/2022Updated: 05/14/2022 11:37 am
The journalist Deniz Yücel takes part in the general meeting in Gotha.
© Martin Schutt/dpa
After the surprising resignation of PEN President Deniz Yücel, PEN members called for a younger workforce.
The writer Thea Dorn said on Saturday during the debate at the general meeting in Gotha that staying in PEN only makes sense for her if the association radically reorganizes itself.
PEN member Herbert Wiesner said:
Gotha - "We need a fresh start with younger people after this disaster, we are headed for nirvana." New member Markus Ostermair saw one of the most important tasks for the continued existence of the association in personnel rejuvenation.
The journalist Yücel had given up his presidency on Friday evening in Gotha after a sometimes venomous debate and a barely failed motion to be voted out.
At the same time, the 48-year-old declared his departure from the "Bratwurst booth" PEN.
On Saturday, the remaining members of the Presidium in Gotha resigned.
An emergency board is now to run the PEN business until a new election is held at an extraordinary general meeting.
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The management style of the top echelons, who were only elected in October, had led to fierce internal quarrels and a deep division in the association.
After the debacle in Gotha, many members thought about leaving the writers' association, as they announced on Saturday.
They judged the mutual contact as unworthy, shameful, shabby and embarrassing.
During the discussion, the writers Eva Menasse and Julia Franck expressed their dismay at the malice and trench warfare that had come to light in Gotha.
Franck spoke of a "hellish spectacle" and battles in which she did not want to take part.
The conflicts included insults, allegations of bullying and the tone of conversation.
In Gotha, too, there were hours of heated debate at the annual meeting on Friday, sometimes in a very unforgiving tone.
dpa
