NRW Integration Minister Josefine Paul Resigns Amid Solingen Attack Fallout
DÜSSELDORF, 27 January 2026 – Josefine Paul, the Green Party minister for children, youth, family, equality, asylum and integration in Germany’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), has resigned. Her departure comes after months of intense political pressure, primarily related to the handling of communications and procedures following the Islamist-motivated knife attack in Solingen in August 2024, which left three people dead.
A Minister Under Fire
According to information obtained by the German Press Agency (dpa), Paul, a member of Alliance 90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), submitted her resignation. Her successor is expected to be Verena Schäffer, the current chair of the Green parliamentary group in the NRW state parliament (Landtag). The opposition Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Free Democratic Party (FDP) had declared the minister “no longer tenable,” accusing her of a lack of transparency and delayed communication in the aftermath of the Solingen attack.
The criticism centred on Paul’s availability in the days following the attack, during which she was on an official trip to France. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) reportedly could not reach her until the Sunday afternoon, two days after the murders were committed. Paul later stated she had sought background information on the suspect via SMS based on initial press reports on the Saturday evening.
Background: From Historian to State Minister
Josefine Paul, born on 2 March 1982 in Helmstedt, has been a member of the NRW Landtag since 2010. The trained historian, who wrote her master’s thesis on the beginnings of football in Germany, served as co-chair of the Green parliamentary group from October 2020 until her appointment as a minister in the “black-green” coalition cabinet of Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) in June 2022.
Her portfolio, one of the most extensive in the state government, combines family, equality, and integration policy. Paul, who is openly lesbian, married former Saxon Justice Minister Katja Meier (Greens) in 2025.
The Solingen Case and Ongoing Scrutiny
The political storm around Paul intensified due to the case of the Solingen attacker, a Syrian jihadist who was originally subject to a deportation order. A failed deportation attempt in 2023 meant the later attacker received subsidiary protection. An opposition-led parliamentary committee of inquiry has been examining the circumstances for over a year.
SPD and FDP recently presented what they called “new allegations,” even suggesting the possibility of a criminal offence related to withheld evidence. They had demanded the full submission of Paul’s official chat communications from the attack weekend by 30 January. Paul is scheduled to testify before the investigative committee as a witness in March 2026.
Additional Criticism: The Kita Reform
Beyond the Solingen case, Paul faced growing criticism from childcare providers and unions over her planned reform of the state’s Child Education Act (KiBiz). The draft law, which proposes introducing core and flexible hours in daycare centres, has been criticised by a broad alliance including the Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW), which demanded a fundamental revision.
Key Facts: Josefine Paul’s Political Career
| Role | Period |
|---|---|
| Member of the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia | Since 2010 |
| Deputy Chair of Green Parliamentary Group | 2010–2012, 2015–2020 |
| Co-Chair of Green Parliamentary Group | October 2020 – June 2022 |
| NRW Minister for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Asylum and Integration | 29 June 2022 – 27 January 2026 |
| Member of Alliance 90/The Greens | Since 1999 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Josefine Paul?
Josefine Paul is a German politician for Alliance 90/The Greens. She served as the State Minister for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Asylum and Integration in North Rhine-Westphalia from 2022 until her resignation on 27 January 2026.
Why did she resign?
Paul resigned under significant political pressure following the 2024 Solingen terror attack. The opposition criticised her communication in the immediate aftermath and the handling of the case of the attacker, who was subject to a prior deportation order. There were also controversies surrounding her planned reform of childcare law.
Who will succeed her?
Verena Schäffer, the current chair of the Green Party parliamentary group in the NRW Landtag, is reported to be her designated successor.
What is the political significance of her resignation?
This marks the first major cabinet reshuffle in the CDU-Green coalition government of Minister-President Hendrik Wüst, which has been in power since 2022. The next state election in NRW is scheduled for 2027.