The Free University of Berlin is withdrawing the doctorate from the former Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Franziska Giffey (SPD). The Presidium had decided unanimously after extensive consultation, announced the university on Thursday after a review of the dissertation of the Berlin SPD state chairmen.
The doctoral degree was obtained through “deception about the independence of its academic performance”, according to the university. Texts and bibliographical references from other authors have been adopted without being adequately marked.
Giffey said she accepted the decision. “I still stand by my statement that I wrote the work submitted in 2009 to the best of my knowledge and belief,” she said. Mistakes that she made in the process were neither intended nor planned.
In autumn 2019, the FU Giffey only issued one complaint
After long discussions about her doctoral thesis and the allegations of plagiarism, Giffey gave up the office of Federal Minister for Family Affairs in May. At that time, she made it public that she wanted to hold on to her top candidate for the House of Representatives election in Berlin in September, even if her doctorate was withdrawn. Giffey wants to succeed Michael Müller (SPD) as governing mayor.
In autumn 2019, the Free University of Giffey issued a complaint about deficiencies in its dissertation, but did not withdraw its title. After criticism of this procedure, the FU announced a new examination by a new committee. The complaint had been lifted, the university announced on Thursday.
Giffey had repeatedly stated that she had written the paper to the best of her knowledge and belief. Last November – while the test was still being carried out at the FU – she decided not to use her doctorate anymore.