Government - Raab case in parliament - special session of parliament
After weeks of debate about a critical letter from media politician Heike Raab (SPD) to SWR, the case will be discussed in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament this Wednesday (1 p.m.). The parliament in Mainz will meet for a special session lasting just under two hours, requested by the two opposition parties CDU and Freie Wähler. Following press conferences and committee meetings, the issue will now take to the larger stage of the plenary session. It will be interesting to see who will speak on behalf of the state government.
In a letter to SWR state broadcasting director Ulla Fiebig, Raab had commented on a report on SWR television, specifically on a segment with a political correspondent. It was about the political future of SPD politician Roger Lewentz, who had resigned as Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Minister in connection with the Ahr Valley flood disaster.
The correspondent made the following assessment, among others: "This is probably unique in Germany that a state interior minister, who has to take political responsibility for the many deaths caused by this terrible Ahr disaster, remains state chairman of his party." Raab criticized this statement in her letter to SWR as "objectively wrong". Fiebig replied in writing that the correspondent's statement was classified as an expression of opinion and not as a statement of fact
Representatives of the opposition in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament consider Raab's letter to be an inadmissible attempt to influence reporting in favor of a party friend as well as a threat against the broadcaster, also because the letter had a letterhead from the state government. Raab herself spoke of "differentiated and objective criticism", which she still stands by in terms of content.
At the same time, she admitted mistakes in a statement last week and has since resigned from her positions as Deputy Chairwoman of the SWR Board of Directors and as a member of the SWR Rhineland-Palatinate State Broadcasting Council. "From today's perspective and reflecting on the discussion of recent weeks, I want to self-critically admit that I should have addressed my factual criticism of the SWR report of April 11 in the responsible broadcasting committees instead of writing a letter," she wrote.
She had also underestimated the impact due to her special role in media politics. "In retrospect, I consider the fact that I used the letterhead "Authorized Representative" to be a mistake." Raab is State Secretary in the State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate and Plenipotentiary of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate to the Federal Government and for Europe and the Media. She is also the coordinator of the Broadcasting Commission of the federal states, making her one of the most important media politicians in Germany.
At the end of last week, Minister President Malu Dreyer (SPD) commented on the issue. She took the public discussion about the letter very seriously, but had no reason to doubt Raab's statements, according to the State Chancellery. Raab had reiterated how much she regretted that a false impression had been created. "As Minister President, I also regret that the impression of influence could have arisen," Dreyer said, according to the State Chancellery.
The opposition, which has kept the issue surrounding the letter simmering for some time, is not satisfied with Raab's withdrawal from the SWR committees and the statements made so far. They are likely to make this clear at the special session on Wednesday.
Invitation to the plenary session
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- The special session in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament is requested by opposition groups CDU and Freie Wähler to discuss the Raab case in parliament.
- The case revolves around Heike Raab's critical letter to SWR state broadcasting director Ulla Fiebig regarding a report on SWR television.
- In her letter, Raab, as State Secretary in the State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate and Plenipotentiary of the State, criticized a political correspondent's statement about SPD politician Roger Lewentz's future.
- The opposition considers Raab's letter to be an attempt to influence reporting and a threat against the broadcaster due to its connection to the state government.
- Minster President Malu Dreyer (SPD) commented on the issue and stated that she takes the public discussion about the letter seriously but does not doubt Raab's statements.
- The special session on Wednesday will likely see the opposition expressing their dissatisfaction with Raab's withdrawal from SWR committees and her statements so far.
- After resigning from her positions within SWR, Raab admitted mistakes in her handling of the situation and underestimated the impact due to her special role in media politics.
- Media outlets such as television station SWR and Stern have reported on the Raab case in parliament, further increasing public interest in the Special Meeting.
Source: www.stern.de
