German bookshop prize ceremony axed after furore over minister's veto

The awards ceremony for a prize for Germany's best independent bookshops has been cancelled after a controversial decision by the country's minister of state for culture to remove three left-wing candidates from consideration.

A spokesman for Wolfram Weimer confirmed on Tuesday that the minister has cancelled the planned presentation of the German Bookshop Award at a book fair in the eastern city of Leipzig next week.

"The debate about the non-consideration of three jury proposals is increasingly threatening to overshadow the actual purpose of the event – namely to recognize and honour independent bookshops," the spokesman said.

The furore has left it "hardly possible" to give the award winners the recognition they deserve, the statement continued.

The German Bookshop Prize is awarded to around 100 small bookshops with prize money ranging from €7,000 ($8,150) to €25,000.

To be selected for nomination, the shops must have an average annual turnover of less than €1 million in the past three years.

Last week, Weimer vetoed three bookshops that were nominated for the prize due to "findings relevant to the protection of the constitution."

The allegations made against the three left-leaning stores in Berlin, Bremen and Göttingen have not been publicized. The trio intend to take legal action. 

Despite the cancellation of the event at the Leipzig Book Fair, the award winners will still be honoured.

"The selected bookshops will receive their prize money and certificates directly," said Weimer's spokesman. The main prizes will be announced separately. 

"We will also invite you to a discussion at a later date as part of a public dialogue event on freedom of art and expression and the significance of state-funded art prizes," the statement continued.