State Minister announces decision: Resignation of State Secretary called for - Minister announces formal declaration:
In a surprising turn of events, Brandenburg's Minister of Agriculture, Hanka Mittelstaedt (SPD), has officially requested the departure of State Secretary Gregor Beyer (independent) from his position. According to reports, this request was made on September 8, 2025, before Beyer went on vacation.
The dispute over the handling of the wolf issue appears to be at the heart of this personnel change. Recently, Beyer came under criticism for suggesting a 15% wolf culling quota, a proposal that Mittelstaedt distanced herself from. The number of wolves in the region, as estimated by Beyer, is up to 1,600, while Mittelstaedt referred to lower numbers from the state environmental agency.
Mittelstaedt emphasized that this personnel matter would not affect her political agenda, which includes strengthening rural areas, realigning EU agricultural policy post-2028, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and strengthening nature conservation.
Minister Mittelstaedt thanked State Secretary Gregor Beyer for his efforts and announced that she would explore further opportunities for him within the state service. In the meantime, Department head Frank Reichel will temporarily assume the duties of the state secretary.
State Secretary Gregor Beyer has not yet commented on the request for his departure. Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke has not yet reacted to the personnel changes.
Interestingly, the "Tagesspiegel" reported that Beyer himself requested a transfer from Woidke, citing sources within his entourage.
This move is seen as a signal to the associations, as the farmers' association had expressed concerns about the handling of the wolf issue. Despite the personnel changes, Mittelstaedt remains committed to finding a solution that balances the needs of both wildlife and farmers in Brandenburg.
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