Once again, ex-constitutional protection chief Hans-Georg Maaßen is causing irritation – also in the ranks of his party. The CDU chairman and candidate for chancellor Armin Laschet holds back with public criticism.
To be seen as a trend a few months before the federal election is likely to be the stated goal of all parties. The CDU, or rather its federal chairman and chancellor candidate Armin Laschet, can now claim this label – only in this case it is of unpleasant charisma: “#LaschetLasset” is the hashtag that was shared a thousand times on Monday and became one of the most popular. Laschet should leave it, demand his critics. The matter with the Chancellery should be meant. Because in their eyes, the CDU boss is failing to do something crucial: a clear distancing.
Because once again Hans-Georg Maassen, the former President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, is causing a stir. Maaßen, who wants to move into the Bundestag for the CDU, repeatedly criticized the political balance of public broadcasting over the weekend – and, among other things, called for the “biographies of some editors to be put to the test”. The statements were sharply criticized, also by Christian Democrats and not least by political opponents. Only Laschet initially left the comments on the attitudes of journalists uncommented.
At least internally, the CDU boss now differentiated himself from the ex-constitutional protection chief, although he is said not to have called him by name. The statements are “not helpful” for the CDU, Laschet is said to have said in the meeting of the party executive on Monday. “Such debates harm us,” Laschet was quoted by the German press agency and “Spiegel”.
A public distancing followed by General Secretary Paul Ziemiak. “The freedom of the press, including the freedom of broadcasting, has constitutional status. That is clear to us,” said Ziemiak after the deliberations of the federal executive committee. That is the “clear opinion without exception of the leadership bodies of the CDU” – including Laschet. A party exclusion procedure, as it was also brought into play by CDU politicians, was not an issue. “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.”
“Must not go over it in silence”
For Laschet, Maassen’s remarks are extremely unsuitable. The Union was able to extend its lead in polls to the Greens, now the former head of the constitutional protection could become a burden before the federal election. Laschet might have hoped to be able to ignore the Maaßen cause so as not to exaggerate it. The fact that he ultimately took a position on the statements, at least in the party leadership, could have been due to the growing pressure from within his own ranks.
“Actually, every word is one too many for him, but you shouldn’t ignore it in silence,”, Chairman of the Junge Union. Lower Saxony’s CDU state chief Bernd Althusmann suggested that Maaßen quit the party. For the chairman of the CDU regional association Hamburg, Christoph Ploß, the statements are unacceptable. Long-time CDU member of the Bundestag, Ruprecht Polenz, spoke out in favor of excluding Maassen from the party.
The sharp criticism from the SPD, the Greens and the Left could also have put Laschet under pressure. “Another anti-democratic failure of CDU Bundestag candidate Hans-Georg Maaßen, once again CDU boss Armin Laschet is silent,” said SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil the “Tagesspiegel”. Greens federal manager Michael Kellner criticized that it shows once again that Laschet “has no compass for dealing with Maassen”. The parliamentary manager of the left-wing parliamentary group, Jan Korte, declared: “With a speechless candidate for Chancellor Laschet, the reactionary forces in the CDU seem to be unable to slow down any more.”
The stern had asked Laschet for a statement on the statements of Maassen on Monday morning. In its response to the request, the CDU press office referred to a text from the German Press Agency (DPA) on Monday afternoon. The headline that the DPA has chosen for its report: “Laschet in election campaign dilemma – Maaßen templates for the Greens and the SPD”.
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
