The political career of Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has reached an end - at least temporarily. But Guttenberg will return to politics as a changed man.
He might condemn the press, but maybe - just maybe - we journalists were right. We saw a pattern in Guttenberg's response to the developing crisis over the past two weeks. First, he called criticism "legitimate". Then it was "exaggerated". He demanded "no rushed verdict" before proclaiming that "enough is enough". He called accusations of plagiarism "absurd" and later "stupid". It is neither unwarranted nor implausible to regard his behaviour as insincere.
The minister's resignation comes at the last moment. If he had waited any longer, the damage for the country's political system and for his party would have been significant. What country tolerates the firing of a grocery store employee who stole old ravioli or secretly cashed a few vouchers to her own benefit but stands by a politician whose fraud has been widely exposed? Only in a banana republic will you find such blatant double standards.
And what political party relies on the whim of popular opinion (especially when the opinion leaders seem to have missed the gravity of plagiarizing a whole dissertation) and simultaneously cultivates the educated elite as its clientele? It would become a farce.
The rebellion of the scientific community has one positive effect on the Christian Democracts (CDU): It is a sign of proof that the party's base can still muster some excitement for politics. For too long, conservative voters have remained silent. Now, the elites have led the charge against zu Guttenberg. When its reputation came under threat, the educated classes struck back.
The defiant tone that the minister struck in his final press conference is a sure sign that his political career is far from over. In one or two years, he will be able to spin the story and argue that he was bullied out of office. Even today, that story is starting to take shape. But the facts are clear: He did not resign voluntarily, and he was not bullied. The mistakes are his own, not those of the German press. He downplayed the significance of his wrongdoing; the press did not blow the scandal out of proportion. Cause and effect have a clear link that cannot be re-defined at will.
This now former Minister of Defence and Member of Parliament must contemplate his guilt. He must put his life back in order, and he should be given the time to do it. Even leftist politician Gregor Gysi has acknowledged this point.
One week ago, I argued that Guttenberg can hope for forgiveness if he repents. In his resignation statement, he at least acknowledged the need for internal reflection. Time will tell whether the country will see the emergence of a more mature, more honest and more authentic Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Editor's note: this is an edited version of an original article by Alexander Görlach.