Federal Data Protection Commissioner announces resignation
For health reasons, Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider will give up the office of the BfDI. However, she wants to remain in office until a successor is appointed.
The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Prof. Dr. Specht-Riemenschneider is stepping down.
(Image: Johanna Wittig)
The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI) Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider is stepping down for health reasons. After just under a year and a half, the legal scholar is giving up leadership of the Bonn-based authority. This was announced at noon by a spokesperson for the authority.
The Federal Data Protection Commissioner was elected by the German Bundestag under the current “traffic light” coalition government. The search for a successor is now the responsibility of the Bundestag, where a black-red coalition of CDU, CSU, and SPD currently holds the necessary simple majority. The Federal Data Protection Commissioner was supposed to receive additional tasks through the transfer of competencies from the federal states agreed upon in the coalition agreement. At the same time, the federal government wants to further restrict its powers in controlling the intelligence services' systems.
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Position must not be vacant
“Data protection is a central value of our society. Therefore, it is important that the office of the Federal Commissioner is represented by a person who is present at all times and without restriction,” explains Specht-Riemenschneider. “However, I need time to recover fully. That is why I have decided to step down from my office.” She will not give up her office until a successor has been found, said Specht-Riemenschneider. “Given the importance of the office, the position of the BfDI must not be vacant, not even for a moment.”
The prominent data law specialist Specht-Riemenschneider took office after a months-long stalemate, after the SPD did not want to support the then Federal Data Protection Commissioner Ulrich Kelber. After months of searching, Specht-Riemenschneider took over the leadership of the authority in September 2024, after the Greens and FDP had reached an agreement. This is precisely what Specht-Riemenschneider, who is now leaving office prematurely, apparently wants to prevent.
(dahe)
