After massive criticism, Patricia Schlesinger was already rid of her position as RBB director. Now the station’s board of directors has terminated her without notice. A new interim boss is also to be appointed.
The director of the Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), Patricia Schlesinger, who has come under massive criticism and was dismissed, is dismissed without notice and receives no severance pay. In addition, an interim director is to be appointed for the RBB management. He should help to lead the public ARD broadcaster out of the current crisis. The acting chairwoman of the RBB board of directors, Dorette König, announced both decisions on Monday after a council meeting in Berlin. A name for a transitional director has not yet been mentioned.
König said that as a precaution Schlesinger would be terminated without notice. The decision was made by a majority. One wants to protect the rights of the RBB against the 61-year-old in the interest of the contributors as best as possible. In addition, Schlesinger should not receive any pension entitlements from her RBB time. A week ago she had already been recalled by the Broadcasting Council – the second control body. The German Association of Journalists welcomed the termination without notice, which state politicians had also called for.
Schlesinger on the termination: “I regret this decision”
Schlesinger had her lawyer announce the extraordinary termination: “I regret this decision, which is obviously politically motivated in order to have a scapegoat. This procedure is by no means covered by the facts.” It also said: “The investigations are far from over. I look forward to their results with confidence.”
The board of directors also commented on the idea of an interim boss for the station on Monday. One is convinced that the structural analysis and repositioning can only succeed with external support, as König further said. They want to develop a timetable for this in the next few days. At the same time, the current RBB management was asked to continue to carry out its tasks to ensure stability. The Broadcasting Council – the second control body in the ARD broadcaster – meets again on Thursday. In addition to the director, the management also includes several directors.
König said yes to the question of whether the council wanted administrative director Hagen Brandstätter, who is currently running the business, to make room for an interim director at the highest broadcasting post. However, the council did not demand the immediate resignation of Brandtäter, who is currently on sick leave. At the weekend, he and the RBB management came under increasing criticism for dealing with the allegations of nepotism against Schlesinger. The ARD directors have lost confidence in the RBB management in dealing with the crisis. The editorial committee, representing the RBB editors, demanded the resignation of the RBB management.
RBB scandal about felt and nepotism allegations
Since the end of June, Schlesinger has been exposed to numerous allegations of nepotism and nepotism, mainly due to reports from the online medium “Business Insider”. She has been ARD chairwoman since the beginning of the year and RBB director since 2016. She resigned from both positions.
At the center of the scandal is the recalled director and the resigned head of the RBB board of directors, Wolf-Dieter Wolf. Both rejected the allegations against them. Among other things, it is about controversial consulting contracts for an RBB construction project, about agreements between the two on salary and bonuses for Schlesinger. And for orders for her husband, the ex-“Spiegel” journalist Gerhard Spörl at Messe Berlin – where Wolf was also chief supervisor until recently.
The General Prosecutor’s Office in Berlin is investigating all three for breach of trust and acceptance of benefits. It is the presumption of innocence. An external investigation into a law firm is also underway. There are no results available yet.
The public debate also revolves around a lack of tact and morality. The allegations are also about details such as dinner in Schlesinger’s private apartment at RBB’s expense, travel, massage seats in an expensive company car and a green plant wall on the executive floor – all of this in a notoriously clammy station with the worst viewership among the third programs in the ARD.
The controversial bonus system for RBB executives, which only became known as a result of public and internal pressure, made many people mad. Schlesinger also received a substantial salary increase of 16 percent to 303,000 euros.
Source: Stern
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