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Political control
The head of the so-called research network “VroniPlag”, Martin Heidingsfelder, now intends to scour the doctorate
thesis of mathematician Johanna Wanka (61) for possible citation errors. According to the German press agency
(dpa), Heidingsfelder intends to review the thesis, written at the Technical University of Leuna-Merseburg at the
height of the GDR era (1980), entitled “Resolution of contact and control problems by potential theoretical means”
before the appointment of the future Minister on 14th February 2013. It remains to be seen whether Heidingsfelder’s
search will be successful; and also how the results of this search will be evaluated. And then the question will
arise of whether the discussion over such “mistakes” will lead to any conclusion. Previously the following has
applied: Errors in degree theses have a limitation period of five years; Errors in doctorate theses and higher
qualifications are not subject to any limitation period – a doctor or professor title can therefore be withdrawn
even a hundred years later.
Currently such a title may only be withdrawn if the offence of deliberate deception can be proven. Legal action
comes under the Administrative Procedure Act (in conjunction with the applicable regulations of the respective
universities, which may differ from state to state), which is to be applied in the event of suspected deceit or
deliberate deceit. In the case of Annette Schavan and other politicians, the withdrawal of the title also resulted
in the loss of political tasks. Irrespective of the compensation such as transitional allowance, pensions, care
payments, it therefore remains to be considered whether the suspicion is so increased that the title must be
withdrawn. In the
Schavan affair
this was obviously the case. And then rogues and dreamers, and even political opponents, who might offer the
shirt off their back to the plagiarism-hunter Heidingsfelder, may hope with all their heart to bring about the
downfall of the Chancellor, because there would be no easier way to remove her from the highest office in Germany,
and so we learn: This is also how politics works!
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