Against the background of the attacks by its Bundestag candidate Hans-Georg Maaßen on public broadcasting, the CDU has emphasized the importance of freedom of the press. “The freedom of the press, incidentally also the freedom of broadcasting, has constitutional status. That is clear to us, ”said General Secretary Paul Ziemiak on Monday in Berlin. “We need independent journalism in Germany. This happens through private providers, but of course also through public broadcasting. That is absolutely essential for the functionality of a democracy. "
That is the "clear opinion without exception of the leadership bodies of the CDU", said Ziemiak after the deliberations of the federal executive committee. Exclusion proceedings against Maaßen were not an issue there. “Yesterday, Mr. Maaßen rowed back from his statements and once again acknowledged the constitutional status of the independent press, freedom of the press. That is also important and necessary. "
In an interview published on Thursday with the television broadcaster tv.berlin, the former President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Maaßen, suggested that journalists should be checked. He accused the public broadcasters of “manipulating opinions” and said: “I think it's a shame that the supervisory authorities don't really correct this public broadcasting service in this regard and ensure that something like this no longer takes place.” He also brought an "NDR committee of inquiry" into discussion; Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) is responsible for the editorial and production of the Tagesschau.
Maaßen went on to say: "If you see that there are also connections between the Tagesschau or between people who work for the public broadcasting service and Tagesschau, and the left and left-wing extremist scene - then it would really be worth investigating that The biography of some editors is also put to the test to see whether these people have the character trait (...) to accompany the daily news through the editors. "
Maassen pushed for clarification
After strong criticism, Maassen softened his remarks on Sunday evening. "Freedom of the press and broadcasting have constitutional status in Germany," he wrote on Twitter. Independent journalism and politically independent public service broadcasting are essential for democracy. He criticizes the tendentious reporting of public service broadcasting, which is part of freedom of expression. But it is clear: "There must be no 'mind control' of journalistic work by politics."
The discussion about the Personnel Maaßen continues. The former CDU general secretary Ruprecht Polenz told the information radio of the Berlin-Brandenburg radio on Monday that it would be nice if Maassen would look for another party. "But I'm afraid he will not do the CDU this favor." He would therefore advise his party to initiate a party expulsion process against Maassen, who has repeatedly harmed the party. “Anyone who questions the freedom of the press in such a way that they want to create a threat against journalists with an attitude test who fails to recognize an important, perhaps the most important basic democratic right: freedom of the press, freedom of expression. And the CDU has nothing in common with such people. "