What happened? First of all, on Friday at the PEN general meeting in Gotha, the journalist Deniz Yücel surprisingly announced his resignation after barely being voted out with the words “I no longer want to be president of this sausage shop”. Of the 161 valid votes cast, 75 voted against his recall and 73 voted in favor. The 48-year-old Yücel only became head of the PEN center in October. Regarding the disputes within the presidium, Yücel said in Gotha: “I don’t need it – take it or leave it, PEN.”
insult and bullying
The management style of the top ranks had led to the PEN dispute. This includes insults, bullying and the tone of conversation. The allegations relate to a comprehensive exchange of mail in the Presidium.
Haslinger now wants to build trust in the writers’ association. The 66-year-old said that this was necessary not only for the presidency, but for the entire work of PEN. Haslinger asked those members who were considering leaving after the Gotha debacle to “wait and see whether the tide would turn”. He will seek reconciliation but will not be available for a full term as President. The PEN Center Germany with 770 members is one of more than 140 writers’ associations worldwide that are united in the international PEN. The three letters stand for “Poets, Essayists, Novelists”.
Source: Nachrichten
