Overview

• The 66-year-old leaves the bpb after a quarter-century, with his official farewell set for Friday following his last day in office on Sunday.
• In a final interview, he rebuked quick stereotypes that paint East Germans as right-wing or hostile, calling such depictions false and hurtful.
• He said he is increasingly frustrated by East Germans being assigned or adopting a “victim role,” stressing the region’s diversity.
• He urged greater mutual tolerance to safeguard democracy, saying people must be free to disagree as long as constitutional red lines are respected.
• The Interior Ministry praised his digital overhaul, including the long-running Wahl-O-Mat, and said a successor has yet to be decided.